PRl+825 

-T3P38 

1922 


THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 

OF  CALIFORNIA 

RIVERSIDE 


THE  PASSING  OF  THE  THIRD 
FLOOR  BACK 


The  Passing  of  the  Third 
~^       Floor  Back 

AN  IDLE  FANCY 

In  a  Prologue,  A  Play,  and  An 
Epilogue 


By 
JEROME  K.  JEROME 


"  I  will  seek  thy  good  " 


NEW  YORK 
DODD,  MEAD  AND  COMPANY 

1022 


r 


COPYEIGHT,  1921 

By  DODD,  MEAD  AND  COMPANY,  Inc. 


CHARACTERS  IN  THE  PROLOGUE 

A  Satyr 
A  Coward 
A  Bully 
A  Shrew 
A  Hussy 
A  Rogue 
A  Cad 
A  Cat 
A  Snob 
A  Slut 
A  Cheat 
and 
A  Passer-by 


[5] 


The  Passing  of  the  Third 
Floor  Back 


PROLOGUE 

SCENE 

The  first  floor  front  of  13,  Bloomsbury  Place,  London, 
W.  C.  The  furniture  is  of  the  Early  Victorian  or 
horsehair  period.  A  worn  Brussels  carpet  covers 
the  floor.  A  large  round  table  occupies  the  centre 
of  the  room.  The  high  bay  windows,  looking  out 
upon  the  street,  are  draped  with  red  curtains; 
between  them  stands  a  small  desk.  Against  the 
wall  at  back,  an  old-fashioned  cottage  piano,  and 
a  sideboard.  From  the  wall  to  the  right  of  the 
audience  large  folding  doors  lead  into  the  dining- 
room.  Two  easy-chairs  face  the  fire,  which  is 
supposed  to  be  in  front:  a  dull  red  glow  spreads 
itself  across  the  room.  The  door  at  back  opens 
into  the  passage.  Opposite  to  it  is  the  front  door, 
surmounted  by  a  "  fanlight " ;  and  beyond,  the  ever- 
misty    square,    leafless    in    winter    dreariness.     A 

[7] 


The  Passing  of  the  Third  Floor  Back 

heavy  three-branched  gaselier  hangs  from  the  ceil- 
ing, the  globes  hidden  under  paper  shades. 
It  is  a  Friday  afternoon  in  November. 

[mrs.  sharpe  is  making  out  her  bills.  She  is  a  tall, 
thin,  sharp-featured  woman.  She  wears  a  widow's 
cap  and  spectacles;  the  latter  she  takes  off  when  not 
writing.  She  looks  up  from  her  writing,  looks  at 
her  watch,  then  calls.] 

MRS.   SHARPE 

Stasia!  [She  rises  and  goes  to  the  door.]  Lazy 
hussy.     [Calls  louder]  Stasia! 

STASIA 

[Without.]  All  right — all  right.  Don't  shout. 
.Spoil  yer  voice  for  singing. 

[Enter  as  she  speaks  stasia,  carrying  a  tray  laden 
with  tea-things.  She  is  a  slatternly  young  person,  her 
hair  fluffed  all  about  her  head.] 

MRS.   SHARPE 

Don't  answer  me  like  that,  you  workhouse  brat  you. 
What  have  you  been  doing? 

STASIA 

Injoring  myself.  [Puts  down  the  tray  on  the  table.] 
All  there  is  to  do  in  this  plice. 

[8] 


The  Passing  of  the  Third  Floor  Back 

MRS.   SHARPE 

You  take  care  you  don't  lose  it — find  yourself  with 
the  key  of  the  street  in  your  pocket.  Not  many  places 
open  to  girls  just  out  of  prison. 

STASIA 

Industrial  school,  if  you  please. 

MRS.   SHARPE 

[Gives  a  snorting  laugh.]  What  time  did  old 
Wright  come  in  last  night? 

STASIA 

[She  is  laying  the  table.]  'Bout  'alf  past  'leven  ot 
quarter  to  twelve. 

MRS.    SHARPE 

Drunk  ? 

STASIA 

Oh,  just  fuddled,  sime  as  usual.  You  know,  I  sup- 
pose, that  ye're  out  of  whiskey  ? 

MRS.   SHARPE 

I'd  forgotten  it. 

STASIA 

Lucky  'e  wasn't  in  a  noticing  mood.  I  give  'im  'alf 
a  tumblerful  of  cold  tea  and  filled  it  up  with  soda 
water.     'E  went  to  bed  singing.     [Laughs.] 

[91 


The  Passing  of  the  Third  Floor  Back 

MRS.  SHARPE 

[Thinking  aloud.]  Cold  tea?  Not  a  bad  idea, 
that.     Much  the  same  colour. 

STASIA 

And  less  'armful. 

MRS.   SHARPE 

[She  grows  confidential]  He's  the  only  one  that 
ever  asks  for  whiskey? 

STASIA 

Only  one  of  'em  as  I'd  trust  not  to  blackmail  yer 
afterwards  for  selling  it  to  them  without  a  licence. 

MRS.   SHARPE 

No  need  to  let  him  have  it  when  he's  sober.  You 
can  have  mislaid  the  key.     Understand  ? 

STASIA 

I  understand.     And  where  do  I  come  in? 

MRS.   SHARPE 

You  be  a  good  girl,  and  maybe  I'll  find  a  blouse 
I've  done  with,  when  I've  time  to  go  over  my  drawer. 

STASIA 

Rather  'ave  it  'fore  you've  done  with  it,  if  ye're 
sure  yer  can  spare  it.  Don't  want  to  be  mistook, 
when  I  go  out,  for  a  bit  of  old  London. 

[10] 


The  Passing  of  the  Third  Floor  Back 

MRS.   SIIARPE 

We'll   see  about  it.     Perhaps [On  her  way 

back  to  the  desk  she  has  drifted  near  to  the  piano.] 
Who's  been  burning  these  candles?  They  are  two 
inches  shorter  than  when  I  blew  them  out  last  night — 
that  I'll  swear. 

STASIA 

Nobody  been  in  'ere  as  I  know  of. 


MRS.   SHARPE 

The  tricks  and  the  dodges  that  they're  up  to!  It's 
like  living  in  a  den  of  lions.  [She  has  whipped  out 
the  candles,  and  with  a  pair  of  scissors  is  making  se- 
cret marks  upon  them;  which  done,  she  replaces 
them.  ] 

STASIA 

It's  a  rummy  world  when  you  come  to  think  of  it. 
[Cheer f idly]  Got  to  be  doing  somebody  or  being  done 
from  the  time  you  get  up  in  the  morning  until  yer  goes 
to  bed  at  night.  And  when  yer  do  fall  asleep,  it's  to 
dream  you've  forgotten  to  bolt  yer  door.  By  the  by, 
what  about  that  third  floor  back?  Ain't  yer  going  to 
do  anything? 

I"] 


The  Passing  of  the  Third  Floor  Back 

MRS.  SHARPE 

Oh!  I've  spent  more  than  I'll  get  out  of  it  in  a 
month,  advertising  it. 

STASIA 

You  don't  make  'em  spicy  enough.  [She  takes  up  a 
folded  copy  of  "The  Christian  World."]  This  is  the 
sort  of  thing  you  want.  [Reads]  "  To  the  lonely :  all 
the  joys  of  'ome." 

MRS.  SHARPE 

Yes,  I  tried  that  one — once.  Told  me  with  tears  in 
his  eyes  that  I  reminded  him  of  his  mother,  and  went 
off  before  five  o'clock  the  next  morning  with  the 
drawing-room  clock. 

STASIA 

'Ow  about  a  card?     That  don't  cost  you  nothing. 

MRS.   SHARPE 

Don't  quite  like  the  idea  of  a  card.  Inviting  all  the 
rag-tag  and  bob-tail  of  the  street  to  come  into  your 
house,  it  always  seems  to  me  like.  Never  know  who 
may  knock  at  your  door. 

STASIA 

Maybe  the  very  one  you're  waiting  for.  Was  read- 
ing a  story  only  the  other  d'y.     A  young  girl — just  in 

[12] 


The  Passing  of  the  Third  Floor  Back 

a  spirit  of  fun  like — puts  up  a  card  in  the  window, 
and  a  young  man  comes  along,  and  just  for  the  joke 
of  it  they  take  'im  in,  and  'e  turns  out  to  be  a  nobleman 
— in  disguise. 

MRS.   SHARPE 

Yes,  I  can  believe  in  the  disguise.  No ;  I  don't  like 
the  idea  of  a  card.  We'll  keep  the  house  respectable 
so  long  as  we  can.  [With  her  bills  in  her  hand  she  is 
passing  out.  She  pauses  to  examine  the  milk-jug.] 
I  think,  Stasia,  the  milk  will  bear  a  little  more  water. 
[She  goes  out  by  the  folding-doors.] 

STASIA 

[Mimics.]  "Don't  quite  like  the  idea  of  a  card." 
Silly  old  fool !     Don't  know  her  own  business. 

[stasia  thinks.  She  makes  sure  that  MRS.  sharpe 
is  out  of  sight;  then  takes  a  card  from  the  drawer  of 
the  desk:  with  a  chair  goes  out  into  the  passage, 
climbs  up  and  places  the  card  in  the  fanlight  over  the 
front  door.  Returns.  A  beam  of  sunlight  has  softly 
stolen  through  the  dingy  fanlight.  It  lies  across  the 
room,  growing  in  brightness,  stasia  returning, 
after  having  replaced  the  chair,  stops  puzzled  for  a 
moment — sunbeams  in  Bloomsbury  in  November  be- 
ing rare.] 

[13] 


The  Passing  of  the  Third  Floor  Back 

Gorblimy,  if  it  ain't  the  sun!  [She  smiles.]  For- 
gotten all  about  'im! 

[Then  fetches  a  jug  of  water  from  the  sideboard. 
Is  about  to  fill  up  the  milk-jug;  pauses;  looks  round. 
Takes  a  long  pull  from  the  jug  first.  Then  fills  it  up 
and  replaces  the  water- jug.     She  goes  out.] 

[The  front  door  is  opened  with  a  latch-key  and  miss 
kite  enters.  She  is  a  maiden  lady  of  forty;  her  am- 
bition is  to  appear  nineteen.  She  is  painted  and  pow- 
dered and  frizzled  and  beribboned.  She  wears  fluffy 
golden  hair,  has  pencilled  eyebrows,  made-up  eyelashes, 
and  carmine  lips,  with  a  waist  of  twenty-two.  She 
giggles  and  gushes  and  simpers  and  bridles;  and 
whenever  she  thinks  nobody  sees,  is  with  the  help  of  a 
pocket-mirror  and  toilet-case  forever  powdering  and 
patching  herself.] 

MISS  KITE 

[She  looks  in,  sees  the  room  is  empty,  enters. 
Opening  her  reticule,  she  takes  out  four  candle  ends, 
substitutes  them  for  the  half-burnt  piano  candles. 
This  is  done  swiftly  and  neatly.  Hearing  footsteps, 
she  slips  out,  closing  the  door  softly  behind  her.] 

[Re-enter  mrs.  sharpe  with  a  teapot.  She  puts 
down  the  teapot  on  the  table;  taking  the  key  from  her 

[14] 


The  Passing  of  the  Third  Floor  Back 

pocket,  opens  the  tantalus  on  the  sideboard,  brings 
down  the  whiskey  decanter  and  proceeds  to  fill  it  from 
the  teapot.  Holding  it  up  to  judge  of  the  colour,  she 
catches  sight  of  the  changed  candles.  She  puts  down 
the  whiskey  decanter  and  charges  across  the  room; 
examines  them — but  of  course  they  could  not  be  the 
same.  She  is  standing  with  them  in  her  hand  when 
re-enter  stasia,  with  remainder  of  tea-things,  includ- 
ing large  teapot.] 

MRS.   SHARPE 

Who's  been  in  here  ? 

STASIA 

Nobody. 

MRS.   SHARPE 

What's  the  good  of  telling  lies? 

STASIA 

Who's  telling  lies?  Think  everybody's  like  your- 
self?    Can't  open  their  mouth 

MRS.   SHARPE 

Somebody  must  have  been  here.  Candles  don't 
change  themselves.     I'm 

[Re-enter  miss  kite,  having  taken  off  her  cloak  and 
hat.     A  silence.  ] 

[15] 


The  Passing  of  the  Third  Floor  Back 

You  haven't  any  idea,  I  presume,  Miss  Kite,  who  has 
been  in  here  stealing  the  candles  ? 

MISS  KITE 

Stealing  the  candles ! 

MRS.  SHARPE 

I  beg  their  pardon.  I  should  say  "  exchanging." 
That's  no  robbery,  of  course.  [From  mock  politeness 
to  sudden  fierceness]  Taking  four  of  them  measur- 
ing well  over  six  inches  each,  leaving  me  a  set  of 
measly  stumps.  [Rams  them  back  into  their  sockets.] 
Nice  sort  of  people  living  in  this  house,  I  must  say. 

MISS  KITE 

[The  tell-tale  teapot  with  the  unstoppered  whiskey 
decanter  beside  it,  remains  on  the  table,  miss  kite 
sniffs  expressively.]  Yes,  do  seem  to  be  a  bit  tricky, 
some  of  them,  don't  they? 

MRS.   SHARPE 

[She  savagely  puts  back  the  decanter.  To  stasia] 
Don't  stand  there  grinning,  you  slatternly  monkey. 
Pull  up  your  stockings,  do ;  and  ring  the  tea-bell. 

[She  gives  her  the  cold  teapot,  and  stasia  goes  out. 
The  bell  is  heard.     A  loud,  brutal-sounding  bell.] 

f  16] 


The  Passing  of  the  Third  Floor  Back 

MISS  KITE 

Shouldn't  be  surprised,  between  ourselves,  if  it 
wasn't  that  girl  Stasia.  Tell  you  what  I  saw  her  doing 
only  the  other  day 

[There    enters    mrs.    major    tompkins.     She    is 
plump,  pretty,  forty- five,  with  white  hair.] 
Oh,  good  afternoon,  dear  Mrs.  Tompkins. 

[mrs.  tompkins  and  mrs.  sharpe  exchange  a 
"Good  afternoon."     They  seat  themselves.] 

miss  kite 

And  how  is  the  dear  Major?  I  thought  he  seemed 
a  little  "  liverish  "  this  morning. 

MRS.  TOMPKINS 

Always  is  after  dining  out — at  somebody  else's  ex- 
pense. [She  laughs.]  Never  can  resist  the  tempta- 
tion of  over-eating  himself. 

miss  kite 

Poor  man!  Doesn't  often  get  the  opportunity,  does 
he?  Dear  Mrs.  Sharpe  sees  to  that.  [She  giggles.] 
Only  my  little  joke,  dear. 

MRS.   SHARPE 

A  generous  table  I  have  always  advertised,  and  a 
generous  table  it  will   always  be  my  endeavour  to 

[17] 


The  Passing  of  the  Third  Floor  Back 

maintain.     Of  course,  if  people  will  tight-lace  so  that 
their  food  can't 

MISS  KITE 

Not  too  much  cream,  dear,  thank  you. 

MRS.  SHARPE 

[Examines  the  milk.]  It  does  look  a  bit  thin. 
Shall  really  have  to  change  my  milkman — if  this 
goes  on. 

MISS  KITE 

Tradesmen  are  such  thieves!  [She  winks  at  mrs. 
tompkins.]  Isn't  Mrs.  Dooley — I  beg  her  pardon, 
Mrs.  de  Hooley — going  to  honour  us  with  her  pres- 
ence this  afternoon? 

MRS.  TOMPKINS 

Perhaps  we  are  not  good  enough  company  for  the 
cousin  of  a  baronet.     [Laughs.] 

MISS  KITE 

Perhaps  not.  But  I  think  we  might  be  for  the 
widow  of  a  potato  salesman.  My  dear,  I  know  it  for 
a  fact.  And  oh,  her  meanness!  Would  you  believe 
it,  her  own  sister,  her  own  nephews  and  nieces,  starv- 
ing: literally 

[mrs.  de  hooley  has  entered,  a  large,  flabby,  pale' 

[18] 


The  Passing  of  the  Third  Floor  Back 

faced  lady.  She  speaks  with  the  accent  of  aristocratic 
languor.  MRS.  sharpe  has  given  a  warning  "Hush!"] 
We  were  just  talking  about  you,  dear.  So  afraid  you 
weren't  coming.  But  why  in  mourning,  dear?  I 
thought  you  had  left  it  off.     Not  another  loss,  I  hope? 

[mrs.  sharpe  has  risen  and  rung  the  bell] 

MRS.  TOMPKINS 

Not  your  cousin,  the  baronet? 

MRS.   DE  HOOLEY 

[Seating  herself.]  Her  late  Majesty,  the  Queen  of 
Naples. 

miss  kite 

[She  winks  at  the  others.]  Must  be  very  expen- 
sive, belonging  to  Court  circles.    Don't  you  find  it  so  ? 

MRS.   DE  HOOLEY 

My  dear,  you  can  have  no  conception.  There  are 
times,  I  assure  you,  when  I  wish  I  had  been  born  one 
of  the  people. 

[A  German  band  out  in  the  Square  begins  to  play 
The  sound  comes  muffled.] 

MRS.  TOMPKINS 

Hark! 

fi9] 


The  Passing  of  the  Third  Floor  Back 

MISS  KITE 

Shall  I  open  the  window  a  little  way,  dear!  The 
fog  has  lifted.  We  shall  be  able  to  hear  better.  [She 
half  rises.] 

[stasia  has  entered  with  a  jug  of  hot  water.] 

MRS.   SHARPE 

No,  dear.  If  they  see  a  lady,  they'll  expect  some- 
thing.    Stasia,  you  just  open  the  window  a  little  way. 

STASIA 

Gar  on.  Why  not  pay  up  yer  tuppence  and  enjoy 
the  luxury  of  feeling  honest  ?  Only  a  'a'penny  a-piece. 

Mrs.  sharpe 
You  do  as  you  are  told. 

STASIA 

[She  goes  to  the  window  and  throws  it  open.  Calls 
out.]     Pl'y  up.     We're  all  a-listening! 

MRS.  sharpe 
You  baggage ! 

[stasia  goes  out  laughing.] 

MRS.  TOMPKINS 

I  wonder  at  your  keeping  that  girl. 

MISS  KITE 

You  got  her  from  Walworth  Jail,  didn't  you,  dear? 

[20] 


The  Passing  of  the  Third  Floor  Back 

MRS.   SHARPE 

Industrial  school. 

MISS  KITE 

My  mistake,  dear.  I  was  speaking  to  one  of  the 
matrons  about  her  only  the  other  day.  Very  bad 
stock.  The  mother — well,  we  needn't  go  into  par- 
ticulars. [Giggles.]  Hope  you're  getting  her  cheap, 
dear. 

MRS.   SHARPE 

If  she  can  do  any  better  for  herself,  the  door's  open. 
And  if  it  comes  to  talk  about  getting  things  cheap — 
especially  candles 

MRS.  TOMPKINS 

She's  not  the  class  of  girl  to  have  about  the  place. 
I've  always  said  so. 

MRS.  DE  HOOLEY 

It  does  seem  to  me  that  when  you  are  catering  for 
ladies  and  gentlemen 

MISS  KITE 

And  when  one  remembers  there  are  young  girls 
about  the  house.  [To  mrs.  tompkins.]  Is  it  true, 
dear,  that  dear  Miss  Tompkins  is  engaged  to  Mr. 
Wright?     Can  we  congratulate  you? 

[21] 


The  Passing  of  the  Third  Floor  Back 

MRS.  TOMPKINS 

Well,  nothing  is  absolutely  settled. 

MISS  KITE 

Oh !  Oh,  I  do  hope  she  gets  him.  Because  she 
has  worked  hard,  poor  girl. 

MRS.  TOMPKINS 

Yes,  and  if  paint  and  powder  could  have  done 
it 

[The  collector  for  the  German  band  appears  at 
the  window.  He  thrusts  his  little  bag  on  the  end  of  a 
stick  through  the  opening.] 

collector 

For  ze  moosik — you  vill  gif  someting?     Yes? 

MRS.    SHARPE 

Go  away.     We  don't  give  to  beggars. 

COLLECTOR 

For  ze  moosik — yes? 

MISS  KITE 

The  persistence  of  the  man ! 

MRS.   SHARPE 

We  never  encourage  foreigners. 

[22] 


The  Passing  of  the  Third  Floor  -Baek 

COLLECTOR 

Yes? 

MRS.   SHARPE 

No.     I  shall  call  the  police — polizei ! 

COLLECTOR 

Pigs! 

MRS.    SIIARPE 

[Who  has  risen  and  crossed,  bangs  the  window.] 

MISS  KITE 

Did  you  hear  that  ?     Called  us  pigs ! 

MRS.   DE  HOOLEY 

It's  surprising  how  well  they  know  English. 

MRS.   SHARPE 

[Reseating  herself.]  You'll  take  another  cup  of 
tea? 

MRS.   TOMPKINS 

[She  has  risen.  She  is  still  ruffled  from  her  en- 
counter with  miss  kite.]  Thank  you,  Mrs.  Sharpe, 
but  there  are  one  or  two  little  things  I  have  to  see  ta 

miss  kite 

I  hope  you  don't  mind  what  I  said  just  now  about 
dear  Vivian.     Only  my  little  joke. 

[23] 


The  Passing  of  the  Third  Floor  Back 

MRS.  TOMPKINS 

Of  course,  if  it  was  only  a  joke 


MRS.   SHARPE 

You're  sure  you  won't  have  another  cup? 

MRS.  TOMPKINS 

Quite,  thank  you,  dear.  To  tell  you  the  truth,  I 
rather  want  to  be  upstairs  when  my  old  man  comes  in. 
There's  a  little  dressing-down  I  owe  him  that  he  got 
out  of  last  night.     [She  laughs.] 

MISS  KITE 

[Laughs  also.]  He  doesn't  often  dodge  it,  does  he, 
dear?     Not  when  you're  feeling  yourself. 

MRS.  TOMPKINS 

Well,  I  flatter  myself  he  knows  what  I  think  of  him. 
[Laughing,  goes  out,  well  pleased  with  herself.] 

MRS.   DE  HOOLEY 

Really,  I  feel  quite  sorry  for  that  poor  man.  Of 
course  he  is  a  beast. 

MISS  KITE 

My  dear,  he  can  give  her  as  good  as  he  gets. 

MRS.   SHARPE 

How  they  keep  it  up  is  a  mystery  to  me.     It's  cat 

[24] 


The  Passing  of  the  Third  Floor  Back 

and  dog  from  the  time  they  get  up  in  the  morning  till 
they  go  to  bed  at  night. 

MRS.  DE  HOOLEY 

Young  Larkcom  calls  them  "  Darby  and  Joan." 
[They  all  laugh.] 

MISS  KITE 

She  didn't  like  what  I  said  about  the  girl.  [Gig- 
gles.]  And  it's  only  the  truth.  The  shameless  way 
she  has  set  her  cap  at  that  poor  man!  Makes  one 
blush  for  one's  sex. 

MRS.   DE  HOOLEY 

Merely  a  common  racing  man,  wasn't  he? 

MRS.   SHARPE 

A  bookmaker — until  he  lost  his  voice. 

MISS  KITE 

They  say  it  was  the  funniest  thing  at  the  end:  to 
hear  him  trying  to  shout  [Mimics]  "  Two  to  one,  bar 
one."     Nobody  could  hear  him  a  yard  away. 

MRS.   DE  HOOLEY 

You  think  he's  really  as  rich  as  he  makes  out  he  is  ? 

MRS.   SHARPE 

Well,  I  wouldn't  like  to  say  that — of  anybody. 

[253 


The  Passing  of  the  Third  Floor  Back 

MISS  KITE 

Well,  my  advice  to  her  would  be  to  marry  him 
quickly  and  take  him  away — somewhere  where  our 
Israelitish  friend  Jape  Samuels  won't  be  able  to  get 
hold  of  him — unless,  of  course,  she  loves  him  for  him- 
self alone. 

MRS.   SHARPE 

I've  noticed  Samuels  has  been  pretty  soapy  to  him 
of  late.  What  is  the  little  try-on?  Have  you  heard 
anything  ? 

MISS  KITE 

A  little,  my  dear.  [She  winks.]  Can't  very  well 
help  it  if  people  will  talk  loud  enough  to  be  heard  the 
other  side  of  a  deal  door.  Of  course,  he  may  have  a 
silver-mine  to  sell,  and  it  may  be  worth  all  that  he  says 
it  is,  and  then,  again,  it  mayn't. 

[The  clock  strikes  the  half -hour — two  strokes.] 

MRS.   SHARPE 

Half-past.  [Rising.]  I  must  be  seeing  about  din- 
ner. It's  a  funny  world.  [To  mrs.  de  hooley] 
Won't  you  take  anything  more  ? 

MRS.  de  hooley 

Nothing  more,  thank  you. 

[26] 


The  Passing  of  the  Third  Floor  Back 

MISS  KITE 

Funny  people  in  it. 

MRS.   SHARPE 

[Has  suggested  to  her  another  slice  of  cake.] 

MISS  KITE 

No,  thanks,  dear.     What  is  the  menu  to-night? 

MRS.   SHARPE 

[She  is  by  the  sideboard.]     Well,  I  thought  a  curry 
would  be  a  pleasant  change  this  evening. 

MISS  KITE 

Ah  yes,  just  the  day  for  it.     And  your  curries,  dear, 
are  always  so  good. 

MRS.   SHARPE 

Oh,  I'm  so  glad  you  like  them.    You're  sure  you've 
finished? 

MISS  KITE 

Quite,  dear,  thank  you. 

MRS.   SHARPE 

I'll  send  the  girl  to  clear  away. 

[mrs.  sharpe,  unobserved,  has  locked  the  tantalus. 
She  goes  out  through  the  folding-doors.] 

[27] 


The  Passing  of  the  Third  Floor  Back 

MISS  KITE 

[Looks  round  the  room  and  sees  that  mrs.  sharpe 
has  gone.  ]  That  means  that  the  veal  is  a  bit  "  off." 
Such  a  useful  thing,  a  little  curry  powder,  for  disguis- 
ing the  smell. 

MRS.  DE  HOOLEY 

[She  sighs.]  I  suppose  they  are  all  alike — lodging- 
house  keepers. 

MISS  KITE 

Cats,  my  dear,  all  of  them.  There's  no  other  word 
for  them — cats. 

MRS.  DE  HOOLEY 

[As  together  they  go  towards  the  door.]  It's  a 
wicked  world. 

MISS  KITE 

Ah,  you  may  well  say  that.  And  it  don't  get  any 
better,  that's  the  sad 

[mrs.  de  hooley  has  opened  the  door.  The  beam 
of  sunlight  falls  full  upon  their  faces,  making  them 
both  blink  for  the  moment.] 

MRS.  DE  HOOLEY 

Well,  I  never !     Quite  a  treat  to  see  the  sun. 

[28] 


The  Passing  of  the  Third  Floor  Back 

MISS  KITE 

Well,  myself,  I  don't  care  for  it. 

MRS.  DE  HOOLEY 

You  don't ! 

MISS  KITE 

My  dear,  it  shows  us  all  up  too  much.  [She  gig- 
gles; and  they  go  out,  leaving  the  door  open.] 

The  stage  remains  empty  for  a  few  seconds.  Then 
the  front  door  is  opened  with  a  latch-key.  major 
tompkins  enters.  He  is  a  fine,  well-set-up  man,  with 
a  military  bearing;  a  ruddy  face  with  white  hair  and 
moustache.  He  wears  a  frock  coat,  tightly  buttoned, 
silk  hat,  and  a  single  eye-glass.  He  carries  gloves 
and  a  walking-stick.  He  looks  into  the  room,  and  his 
eyes  fasten  on  the  remains  of  the  tea.  He  looks  out 
and  up  and  down  the  stairs  and  passage;  then  enters 
the  room,  humming  an  air.  Hurriedly  he  empties  the 
remainder  of  the  biscuits,  together  with  the  cake,  into 
his  hat.  This  done,  still  humming  and  with  a  jaunty 
step,  he  makes  for  the  door.     But  as  he  reaches  it: 

There  re-enters  mrs.  sharpe.] 
major 

Ah,  Mrs.  Sharpe,  good  afternoon.  And  how  is 
Mrs.  Sharpe  this  afternoon? 

[29] 


The  Passing  of  the  Third  Floor  Back 

MRS.   SHARPE 

Quite  well,  thank  you,  Major  Tompkins. 

MAJOR 

Delighted !— delighted ! 

MRS.   SHARPE 

[She  glances  at  the  table,  and  takes  in  the  facts. 
She  closes  the  door  with  a  click,  and  stands  in  front 
of  it.  She  makes  a  quick  movement  to  try  to  see  into 
the  hat.  By  exceeding  nimbleness  he  frustrates  her.] 
Won't  you  put  your  hat  down,  Major? 

major 

I  thank  you,  Mrs.  Sharpe,  but  I'm  rather  in  a  hurry. 

MRS.   SHARPE 

[With  sudden  fierceness.]  And  so  am  I — for 
thirty-six  pounds  eighteen  shillings  and  fourpence. 
Which  unless  you  pay  me  by  twelve  o'clock  to-morrow 
I  intend  to  sue  you  for  in  the  County  Court.  And 
that  before  we  are  either  of  us  a  week  older. 

MAJOR 

Let  us  be  business-like. 

MRS.   SHARPE 

Most  happy. 

[30] 


The  Passing  of  the  Third  Floor  Back 

MAJOR 

You  can  sue  me,  Mrs.  Sharpe,  and  you  won't  get  so 
much  as  a  damned  penny. 

MRS.   SHARPE 

Perhaps  not;  perhaps  yes. 

major 

I  propose  to  you,  Mrs.  Sharpe,  that  you  accept  my 
bill  for  one  hundred  pounds  at  three  months.  By 
which  date  the  chances  are  that  my  daughter  will  be 
Mrs.  Joseph  Wright,  and  that  I  shall  be  in  a  position 
to  meet  it. 

MRS.  SHARPE 

And  meanwhile  I  am  to  go  on  keeping  you  all  three. 

MAJOR 

[Shrugs  his  shoulders.]  I  put  it  to  you  as  a  gam- 
ble. [Close  to  her — confidential.]  Mr.  Wright  has 
made  my  daughter  a  formal  offer  of  marriage.  Vivian 
hesitates  a  little.  It  is  natural.  But  she  has  sense. 
She  will  listen  to  her  old  father's  advice,  [with  a 
chuckle]  especially  seeing  it  will  be  to  her  own  advan- 
tage. 

MRS.  SHARPE 

Hardly  to  her  advantage  paying  your  debts. 

[31] 


The  Passing  of  the  Third  Floor  Back 

MAJOR 

[He  seats  himself  at  the  table.]  Hardly  to  her  ad- 
vantage allowing  it  to  appear  in  all  the  papers  that  her 
father  is  being  sued  for  board  and  lodging.  Family 
pride,  Mrs.  Sharpe — there  is  such  a  thing  as  family 
pride. 

MRS.  SHARPE 

[Yielding.]     Well,  only  mind 


MAJOR 

[He  has  taken  out  his  pocket-book  and  his  pen.] 
A  business  man,  Mrs.  Sharpe,  is  always  prepared  for 

business.     Let  me  see,  to-day  is [He  is  filling 

in  the  bill.] 

[vivian  has  entered  unobserved.  She  is  in  walk- 
ing-dress. She  is  a  tall,  handsome  girl,  dark,  with 
strong  but  finely  cut  features;  dark,  passionate  eyes; 
and  bears  towards  all  things  a  weary,  mocking  man- 
ner.] 

VIVIAN 

[She  looks  from  one  to  the  other;  closes  door.] 
And  if  I  don't? 

MAJOR 

My  dear ! 

[3*] 


The  Passing  of  the  Third  Floor  Back 

VIVIAN 

Oh,  let  us  talk  plainly.  [She  crosses,  taking  off  her 
hat,  etc.]  You  are  persuading  Mrs.  Sharpe  to  bet  on 
the  chance  of  my  accepting  Mr.  Joseph  Wright's 
clammy  and,  generally  speaking,  not  over-clean  hand. 

MRS.  SHARPE 

Well,  to  be  candid,  Miss  Tompkins,  I  don't  see  any 
other  hope  myself  of  my  ever  getting  my  money. 

MAJOR 

And  to  be  equally  candid  with  everybody,  nor  more 
do  I. 

VIVIAN 

I  should  risk  it,  Mrs.  Sharpe.    I  think  you  will  win. 

MAJOR 

Mrs.  Sharpe,  you  hear.     You 

VIVIAN 

Of  course,  there  is  the  possibility  that  in  some  mo- 
ment of  self-respect  I  may  be  tempted  to  tell  him  how 
the  mere  touch  of  him  is  loathsome  to  me. 

major 

Vivian !    My  dear ! 

VIVIAN 

I  merely  mention  it  that  everything  may  be  quite 

[33] 


The  Passing  of  the  Third  Floor  Back 

fair.  Mrs.  Sharpe  will  judge  for  herself  whether  in 
the  end  I  am  more  likely  to  be  influenced  by  self-re- 
spect or  self-interest. 

major 

[IVhispers.]     A  little  fretful.     But  plenty  of  sense. 

MRS.  SHARPE 

[She  has  decided  to  chance  it.]     Mind,  if  it  isn't 
met 

major 

It  shall  be  met,  Mrs.  Sharpe,  on  the  honour  of  a 
soldier. 

MRS.  SHARPE 

[Putting  the  bill  in  her  pocket.]     I'm  putting  my 
trust  more  in  Miss  Vivian. 

[She  goes  out.] 

MAJOR 

[He  answers  her  with  a  pleasant  laugh  and  a  wave 
of  the  hand.     Then  he  turns  to  his  daughter.]     My 

dear  child,  I  cannot  tell  you [She  is  carrying 

his  hat  towards  the  window.]  What  are  you  doing? 
Vivian !  [She  opens  the  window  and  flings  the  con- 
tents of  the  hat  into  the  street.]  How  dare  you! 
Damn   your    infernal    impudence!     How    dare    you! 

[34] 


The  Passing  of  the  Third  Floor  Back 

[Having  closed  the  window,  she  faces  him.  The  blus- 
ter falls  from  him.]  The  wastefulness — the  wicked 
wastefulness!  [She  hands  him  the  empty  hat.]  Rob- 
bing your  own  father  to  fling  it  to  the  mere  street 
brats!  Look  at  'em! — look  at  'em!  [She  hands  him 
his  stick  and  gloves.  Again  he  collapses,  and  taking 
them,  goes  towards  the  door.]  My  one  weakness:  a 
nibble  of  something  sweet  with  the  last  glass — just 
before  going  to  bed.  [From  tears  again  to  fury.] 
And  you  knew  it,  you 

[mrs.  tompkins  has  entered  with  a  soft  step  and 
smiling  face.     A  silence.] 

MRS.   TOMPKINS 

I  thought  I  heard  your  voice. 

MAJOR 

[Snarls.]     Ah,  you  did,  did  you?     Yes,  some  of  us 
have  got  long  ears. 

MRS.   TOMPKINS 

One  doesn't  want  them  particularly  long  to  hear 
you,  when  you  are  bullying  a  woman ! 

MAJOR 

Bullying!    I?    Why  haven't  you  brought  up  your 
daughter  to  respect  her  father? 

[35] 


The  Passing  of  the  Third  Floor  Back 

MRS.  TOMPKINS 

Vivian,  haven't  I  always  impressed  it  upon  you  that 
it  is  your  duty  to  hide  the  contempt  you  can't  help 
feeling  for  your  father? 

MAJOR 

[Snarls.]  Ah!  look  at  her,  standing  there  grinning 
— after  all  that  I've  done  for  her. 

MRS.   TOMPKINS 

That  you 


MAJOR 

Wasn't  it  I  who  brought  old  Wright  here  ?  Haven't 
I  invited  him  to  my  own  club — and  been  asked  to  re- 
sign myself  in  consequence?  Don't  I  listen  to  his 
damned  silly  stories? 

MRS.   TOMPKINS 

And  borrow  half-crowns  from  him. 

MAJOR 

It  all  helps.     It  makes  him  feel  one  of  the  family. 

MRS.   TOMPKINS 

The  family  don't  get  many  of  them. 

MAJOR 

Don't!     Who  keeps  both  of  you — in  luxury? 

[36] 


I1 


The  Passing  of  the  Third  Floor  Back 

MRS.  TOMPKINS 

Mrs.  Sharpe! 

MAJOR 

Mrs.  Sharpe!     You  throw  that  in  my  teeth,  you; 
when  your  own  father  died  bankrupt. 

MRS.  TOMPKINS 

Why  did  you  swindle  him? 

MAJOR 

Who  swindled  him? 

MRS.  TOMPKINS 

You !     Didn't  you  take  all  my  money  ? 

MAJOR 

Your  money !     Who  cheated 


MRS.  TOMPKINS 

Who  stole  — 


MAJOR 

Who 


[joey  wright  has  entered,  a  man  of  a  little  over  60 
perhaps,  with  the  face  and  figure  of  Silenus:  a  leering, 
blear-eyed,  perspiring  person.  He  speaks  always  in  a 
hoarse  whisper;  wears  extravagant  clothes  and  a 
quantity  of  jewellery.] 

[37) 


The  Passing  of  the  Third  Floor  Back 

[In  a  moment  the  major  and  mrs.  tompkins  are  all 
smiles  and  smirks.] 

MAJOR 

Ah  !  and  how  is 


MRS.  TOMPKINS 

Good  after  — 


WRIGHT 

[He  waves  them  aside.]  Finish  it  out — finish  it 
out.  Don't  let  me  spoil  sport.  Only  looked  in  to  ask 
Miss  Vivian  if  she  wouldn't  come  to  the  theatre  with 
me  this  evening.  Got  a  box  for  the  Gaiety.  [He 
goes  to  her;  she  moves  a  step  away.] 

MAJOR 

Delighted,  I'm  sure.  [He  is  making  frantic  signs 
to  vivian.]     The  dear  child  will  be  delighted. 

MRS.  TOMPKINS 

You'll  be  able  to  wear  your  new  frock,  dear. 

VIVIAN 

Thanks.  I'm  not  feeling  particularly  inclined  for 
the  theatre  to-night. 

MAJOR 

Not  even  with  the  little  supper — the  little  supper 

[38] 


The  Passing  of  the  Third  Floor  Back 

afterwards  at  the  Savoy?     [He  is  winking  at  joey 

WEIGHT.] 
WRIGHT 

You  might  come.     You  never  will.     Shall  begin  to 
think  you  don't  like  me. 

VIVIAN 

[Turns  and  looks  at  him,  and  as  she  turns  away 
again  she  hesitates.  ]     I'll  think  it  over. 

WRIGHT 

[He  looks  round  at  the  parents  questioningly.] 

MRS.  TOMPKINS 

[Whispers  to  him.]     That'll  be  all  right. 

MAJOR 

You  have  the  cab  ready  waiting  at  the  door. 

WRIGHT 

[He  nods  his  understanding.]     That's  all  I  came 
for.    Sorry  to  have  interrupted.     [He  goes  out.] 

[The  major  carefully  closes  the  door,     vivian  has 
taken  up  her  hat.] 

major 
Well,  what  are  you  going  to  do  ? 

[39] 


The  Passing  of  the  Third  Floor  Back 

VIVIAN 

"  Think  it  over  " — for  myself  and  by  myself.     [Her 
eyes  are  blazing.] 
[A  silence.] 

MAJOR 

[Looks  at  vivian,  then  at  his  wife.] 

MRS.  TOMPKINS 

[They  speak  in  low  tones.]  Perhaps  we  shall  only 
irritate  her. 

MAJOR 

Plain  enough  where  she  gets  her  damned  obstinacy 
from.     [He  flings  out  of  the  room.] 

MRS.  TOMPKINS 

[Following.  The  quarrel  continues  up  the  stairs.] 
Yes.  I'd  be  sorry  to  think  that  she  took  after  you. 
Eh,  what  do  you  say? 

[vivian  crosses,  carrying  her  hat  and  cloak.  The 
shaft  of  sunlight  has  grown  stronger.  Catching  her 
eyes,  it  causes  her  to  pause.  She  stands  a  moment 
looking  at  it.  A  faint  smile  comes.  She  then  lays 
down  what  she  is  carrying,  and  stretching  out  hei 
hands,  warms  them  childishly  in  the  light.  Thus  she 
is  standing,  her  face  uplifted  to  the  light,  when 
Christopher  enters. 

[40] 


The  Passing  of  the  Third  Floor  Back 

[Christopher  takes  her  outstretched  hands,  and  in 
silence  they  stand  just  within  the  doorway,  illumined 
by  the  sun.  After  a  while  he  releases  her  hands  and 
closes  the  door.  The  room  darkens.  She  lets  her 
hands  fall  by  her  side,  and  moves  away.  ] 

CHRISTOPHER 

I  crossed  the  old  folks  on  the  stairs.  [Laughs.  ] 
I  thought  you  might  be  here. 

VIVIAN 

I  was  just  going  up  to  dress. 

CHRISTOPHER 

There's  no  hurry,  is  there? 

VIVIAN 

Yes. 

CHRISTOPHER 

Why? 

VIVIAN 

My  future  husband  may  be  coming  back. 
[A  silence.] 

CHRISTOPHER 

You  have  made  up  your  mind? 

VIVIAN 

[She  nods.]     What  else  is  to  be  done? 

[41] 


The  Passing  of  the  Third  Floor  Back 

CHRISTOPHER 

Vivian,  listen.  Artists  do  make  money — heaps  of 
money. 

VIVIAN 

After  how  many  years?    We  would  both  be  old. 

CHRISTOPHER 

[An  evil  look  in  Jus  face.]  There  are  pictures  peo- 
ple will  buy  and  pay  well  for.  I  can  knock  them  off 
quickly.     They  don't  want  Art. 

VIVIAN 

Ah!  don't.  It  was  why  I  loved  you.  You  seemed 
to  me  the  only  human  creature  with  a  soul  I'd  ever 
met.    Let  me  respect  you. 

CHRISTOPHER 

I  don't  want  your  respect.  I  want  you.  [He 
seises  her.     The  passion  is  in  his  eyes.] 

VIVIAN 

Hark !     Go ! 

CHRISTOPHER 

Vivian !    You  must — you  shall. 

VIVIAN 

Don't  be  a  fool.  [She  frees  herself  from  him.] 
Do  you  want  to  sink  to  my  level  ? 

[42] 


The  Passing  of  the  Third  Floor  Back 

CHRISTOPHER 

Yes.     I  tell  you  I  want  you.     I 

[There  enters  harry  larkcom,  about  five-and- 
twenty,  a  cheerful  young  bounder,  loudly  dressed. 
He  carries  about  him  the  atmosphere  of  the  music- 
hall.  With  him  jape  samuels,  an  older  man,  a  Jew 
of  the  most  objectionable  type,  now  oily,  now  aggres- 
sive. His  dress  is  that  of  the  city  man.  vivian 
collects  her  belongings  and  moves  to  go  out.  lark- 
com, the  low  comedian  of  the  house,  opens  the  door 
for  her,  bowing  with  hand  on  heart,  samuels  kisses 
his  hand  after  her.  She  goes  out.  larkcom  closes 
the  door,  and  they  both  turn  round  with  a  laugh. 
Christopher  has  noticed,  bit  his  lip,  and  turned 
azvay.} 

SAMUELS 

How  are  you  getting  on? 

CHRISTOPHER 

I  have  begun  them.  You  shall  have  them  by  the 
end  of  next  week. 

SAMUELS 

Good  man.  Get  you  another  job  when  they're  done. 
Keep  them  thpithy.  You  know  what  I  mean:  don't 
watht  too  much  paint  on  the  clothe.     [Laughs.] 

[43] 


The  Passing  of  the  Third  Floor  Back 

CHRISTOPHER 

I  quite  understand.  Thank  you — very  much.  [He 
goes  out.] 

SAMUELS 

Don't  mention  it.  [He  kicks  the  door  to  after  him. 
Turns  to  larkcom.]  Keep  him  up  to  it.  I  can  thell 
ath  many  ath  he  can  paint  of  the  thort  at  twithe  what 
I  pay  him.     Tell  you  what  I  want  you  to  do  for  me. 

LARKCOM 

[He  is  unlocking  the  tantalus,  with  a  key  from  his 
own  pocket.]  Found  it  out  by  accident.  Fits  it  like 
a  glove.  [They  laugh.]  See  that  the  old  girl  ain't 
coming. 

SAMUELS 

[He  peeps  out,  closes  the  door  again.]  It'th  all 
right.  I  want  you  to  take  old  Wright  out  to  lunth 
next  Wednethday  at  Romanoth.  [He  thrusts  his  face 
forward  zvith  his  finger  at  the  side  of  his  nose.]  And 
don't  be  thingy  with  the  drinkth. 

LARKCOM 

[Laughs.] 

SAMUELS 

Put  him  in  a  cab  afterwardth  and  bring  him  up  to 

[44] 


The  Passing  of  the  Third  Floor  Back 

my  little  plathe  in  the  thity.     We'll  have  everything 
jutht  ready  for  him  to  thign. 

LARKCOM 

You  don't  think  he's  a  bit  too  fly  ? 

SAMUELS 

[The  finger  to  the  nose  again.]  Have  a  girl  with 
you. 

LARKCOM 

You  are  a  rare  old  gimlet,  you  are.  [Has  prepared 
what  he  thinks  to  be  two  whiskies-and-water.  He 
hands  one  to  Samuels.] 

SAMUELS 

Got  to  be  up  to  a  trick  or  two  in  thith  world  if  you 
don't  want  to  be  left.  [They  have  clicked  glasses. 
They  now  take  their  first  pull.  ]     What  ith  it  ? 

[They  look  at  one  another  with  wry  faces.] 

LARKCOM 

Some  muck  she's  got  for  palming  off  upon  old  Joey 
when  he's  drunk. 

SAMUELS 

Old  thief! 

LARKCOM 

Makes  you  lose  your  faith  in  human  nature,  don't 

[45] 


The  Passing  of  the  Third  Floor  Back 

it?  [He  crams  the  half -empty  tumblers  into  the  side* 
board.  ] 

[stasia  has  entered  from  the  other  room.  Her 
business  for  the  next  few  minutes  is  clearing  the  tea- 
table.  ] 

Hello,  what  price  the  belle  of  Bloomsbury!  [He 
makes  to  embrace  her.  She  slaps  his  face.  ]  All  right. 
Now  you  don't  have  what  I  was  going  to  give  you. 

STASIA 

That'll  save  trouble  all  round. 

SAMUELS 

[Laughs.] 

LARKCOM 

Save  you  the  trouble  of  living  up  to  them.  [Pro- 
duces from  his  pocket  a  box,  opens  it,  and  displays  a 
pair  of  cheap,  gaudy  earrings.]     Emeralds. 

STASIA 

Real  old  bottle  glass. 

LARKCOM 

[He  appeals  to  Samuels.]  Ain't  they  real  emer- 
alds? 

SAMUELS 

[Examines  them,  with  the  air  of  an  expert.]    Four- 

[46] 


The  Passing  of  the  Third  Floor  Back 

teen  carat.     Thall  be  upthairth  if  you  want  me.     [He 
goes  out.] 

LARKCOM 

[He  thrusts  the  earrings  again  under  her  nose.] 
Knock  at  my  door,  softly,  about  ten  o'clock  to-night, 
if  you  feel  you  want  'em.  [Snaps  the  case.  Winks. 
Goes  out.] 

[stasia  goes  into  the  other  room;  is  heard  laying 
the  fable.] 

[Enter  mrs.  sharpe.  She  goes  to  the  sideboard. 
Her  business  is  the  taking  of  wine-glasses  and  arrang- 
ing them  on  a  tray.  The  folding  doors  are  partly 
open.  ] 

MRS.  SHARPE 

[Her  back  is  to  the  dining-room.  She  holds  up  one 
by  one  the  glasses  to  the  light;  polishes  them  when 
need  be  with  her  pocket-handkerchief.]  Is  that  you, 
Stasia? 

STASIA 

That's  me. 

MRS.  SHARPE 

What  are  you  doing? 

[47] 


The  Passing  of  the  Third  Floor  Back 

STASIA 

Lying  the  table  for  dinner. 

MRS.   SHARPE 

Have  you  taken  up  everybody  their  hot  water  ? 

STASIA 

Yus.  I've  taken  them  up  their  'ot  water — all  the 
rotten  lot  of  them. 

MRS.   SHARPE 

What  do  you  mean  ? — "All  the  rotten  lot  of  them  "  ? 

STASIA 

Well,  so  they  are.  Young  Christopher  Penny!  I 
did  think  'e  was  a  cut  above  the  others. 

MRS.    SHARPE 

Umph!    What's  he  doing? 

STASIA 

Painting  pictures.  Got  an  order  for  a  dozen.  I 
told  'im  straight.  "  You  tike  care  the  police  don't  see 
'em,"  I  says,  "  if  the  others  are  going  to  be  like  that." 

MRS.    SHARPE 

[  With  the  snort  that  does  duty  for  her  laugh.  ]  As 
bad  as  all  that  ? 

[48] 


The  Passing  of  the  Third  Floor  Back 

STASIA 

Somebody's  put  'im  up  to  it.  Old  Wright,  I 
shouldn't  wonder — old  beast ! 

MRS.   SHARPE 

That'll  do — that'll  do.  Don't  you  be  so  free  with 
your  tongue. 

STASIA 

Well,  so  'e  is ;  wanting  to  marry  a  girl  young  enough 
to  be  his  daughter.  She's  no  better.  She's  going  to 
sell  'erself  all  right  enough. 

MRS.   SHARPE 

How  do  you  know  ? 

STASIA 

Just  called  me  in  to  help  'er  on  with  'er  new  frock. 
You  know :  the  one  without  any  neck  and  arms.  She's 
going  out  to  the  theatre  with  'im. 

MRS.    SHARPE 

Glad  to  hear  it. 

STASIA 

Ah!  they're  a  rotten  lot,  all  of  them.  There's  old 
"  Darby  and  Joan  "  been  jawing  at  each  other  ever 
since  'e  come  in,  calling  each  other  every  name  under 
the  sun.    Then  there's  Jew-boy  Samuels  planning  it 


The  Passing  of  the  Third  Floor  Back 

with  young  Larkcom  'ow  to  swindle  everybody.  Didn't 
know  I  was  in  the  next  room  a-listening.  D'ye  'ear 
old  Kite  slanging  me  just  now? 

MRS.   SHARPE 

Yes.    What  was  it  about? 

STASIA 

Oh!  'cos  I  went  in  without  knocking— caught  'er 
with  the  paint-pot  in  'er  'and.  Old  'Ooley's  another 
of  'em,  makes  me  sick — practising  court  curtseys  in 
front  of  the  looking-glass  all  to  'erself — old  fool! 
Got  those  glasses  ready  ? 

MRS.  SHARPE 

Yes,  they're  ready. 

STASIA 

[Entering.]     We're  no  better,  you  know,  you  and 
me.     You're  an  old  thief. 


MRS.   SHARPE 

[Speechless.]    A  thief !    What  do  you 


STASIA 

So  you  are.  So  am  I — and  wuss.  What's  the  good 
of  us  all,  that's  what  I  want  to  know?  What's  the 
good  of  us? 

[50] 


The  Passing  of  the  Third  Floor  Back 

MRS.   SHARPE 

[Repeating  helplessly.]     What's  the  good  of  us? 

STASIA 

[She  has  put  down  the  tray  again  which  she  at  first 
had  taken  up.  She  comes  down  and  faces  mrs. 
sharpe.]  What's  the  use  of  us  ?  What's  the  good  of 
us  to  ourselves  or  to  anybody  else  ?    What 

[There  comes  a  knock  at  the  street  door — one  sin- 
gle, clear,  distinctive  knock.  It  sounds  mysteriously, 
coming  so  unexpectedly  into  the  darkening  room. 
mrs.  sharpe  and  stasia  both  start,  and  stand  a  mo- 
ment looking  at  one  another.] 

MRS.  sharpe 
What  was  that? 

stasia 
Somebody  knocking  at  the  door. 

MRS.  sharpe 
Who  can  it  be  ? 
[The  knock  is  repeated.] 
It  must  be  some  beggar. 

STASIA 

P'raps  it's  a  visitor. 

[5i] 


The  Passing  of  the  Third  Floor  Back 

MRS.  SHARPE 

A  visitor  ?    What  sort  of  visitor  would 

[The  knock  is  again  repeated.] 

STASIA 

Seems  determined  to  come  in. 

MRS.   SHARPE 

Go  and  see  who  it  is. 

[stasia  goes  out,  closing  the  door  behind  her.] 

[mrs.  sharpe,  puzzled  at  the  passing  of  the  time, 
goes  to  the  keyhole;  peeps  through;  returns  to  her 
glasses;  goes  to  the  keyhole  again — listens;  the  handle 
turns,     mrs.  sharpe  darts  away  just  in  time. 

[stasia  re-enters.  She  closes  the  door  and  stands 
smiling — at  nothing  in  particular.] 

MRS.   SHARPE 

Well?    What  are  you  grinning  at? 

STASIA 

Nothin'.     [But  still  she  stands  smiling.] 

MRS.   SHARPE 

What's  the  matter  with  you  ?    Who  is  it  ? 

[52] 


The  Passing  of  the  Third  Floor  Back 

STASIA 

'E's  come  about  the  room. 


MRS.   SHARPE 

The  room !     What — Did  you  put  up  that  card,  in 
spite  of  my  telling  you  not  to  ? 

STASIA 

Yus. 

MRS.   SHARPE 

[A  movement  of  impatience.]     What's  he  like? 

STASIA 

'E  ain't  the  usual  sort. 

MRS.   SHARPE 

Thank  God  for  that.    Is  he  a  gentleman? 

STASIA 

[She  seems  to  be  in  a  dream.]     I  dunno. 

MRS.   SHARPE 

[Again  a  movement  of  impatience.]    Young  or  old? 

STASIA 

Still  with  the  same  exasperating,  dreamy  smile.] 
I  dunno. 

[53] 


The  Passing  of  the  Third  Floor  Back 

MRS.   SHARPE 

Ah,  you  fool !  Show  him  in.  [She  arranges  her 
cuffs,  straightens  her  cap.] 

STASIA 

[Opens  the  door.]     Come  in. 

[The  stranger  enters;  a  slightly  stooping  figure, 
clothes — if  one  look  at  them  closely — somewhat 
shabby,  the  long  coat  somewhat  old-fashioned.  His 
hat,  his  staff,  quaintly  suggestive  of  the  days  of  pil- 
grimage. What  age  he  might  be  it  woidd  be  difficult 
to  say;  there  are  moments  when  the  deep  eyes  would 
seem  to  speak  of  many  sorrows.  But  more  often — and 
always  when  he  smiles — it  is  a  face  radiant  with  youth. 
In  some  mysterious  way  he  brings  into  the  room  with 
him  an  atmosphere  of  dignity.  Yet  there  is  nothing 
"  important "  about  the  stranger.  //  there  be  any- 
thing great  about  him,  it  lies  in  his  simplicity,  his  gen- 
tleness. He  bows  to  mrs.  sharpe.  It  is  the  simplest 
of  courtesies,  yet  one  fails  to  see  how  it  could  express 
more  were  she  the  daughter  of  a  hundred  earls.  And 
mrs.  sharpe,  returning  the  bow,  becomes,  for  the  mo- 
ment, a  lady.] 

the  stranger 
Good  afternoon. 

[54] 


The  Passing  of  the  Third  Floor  Back 

MRS.   SHARPE 

Good  afternoon.  You  have  called  about  a  room? 
[She  has  clothed  herself  in  her  most  ladylike  tones 
and  manners.] 

THE   STRANGER 

Your  little  maid  tells  me  there  is  one  vacant. 

MRS.   SHARPE 

Yes.  There  does  happen  to  be  just  one.  You  can 
go,  Stasia. 

[stasia  goes  to  take  up  her  tray — the  stranger 
interposes.  ] 

THE   STRANGER 

[To  mrs.  sharpe.]     May  I?     It  is  so  heavy. 

[He  carries  out  the  tray,  stasia  stares  after  him 
open-mouthed.  Then  at  mrs.  sharpe,  who  is  also 
staring.  ] 

THE   STRANGER 

[Returning — to  stasia.]  I  have  placed  it  on  the 
table.     Was  that  right? 

MRS.   SHARPE 

Quite  right.  [To  stasia,  who  is  on  her  way  out.} 
Shut  the  door  after  you. 

[55] 


The  Passing  of  the  Third  Floor  Back 

[stasia,  as  in  a  dream,  goes  out.  Closes  the  door.] 
Won't  you  be  seated? 

THE  STRANGER 

Thank  you.  [One  of  the  easy-chairs  stands  by  the 
table.  He  pushes  it  nearer  the  fire.]  Will  you  take 
this  chair? 

MRS.   SHARPE 

[Who  is  not  used  to  having  chairs  offered  her,  ac- 
cepts it  somewhat  awkwardly.]  Thank  you.  [She 
sits  stiffly.] 

[The  stranger  crosses,  seats  himself  the  other  side 
of  the  fire.  The  twilight  is  deepening.  The  red  glow 
from  the  fire  illumines  their  faces.] 

THE   STRANGER 

[Smiling.]     Now  we  can  talk  business. 

MRS.   SHARPE 

[She  bows.  To  bow  frequently  and  very  stiffly  is 
one  of  her  ideas  of  high-class  manners.]  To  begin 
with — you  will  excuse  the  question,  I'm  sure — but 
[she  is  eyeing  critically  his  clothes]  what  are  you  ? 

THE  STRANGER 

I — am  a  wanderer. 

[56] 


The  Passing  of  the  Third  Floor  Back 

MRS.   SHARPE 

You  mean  a  traveller  ? 

THE  STRANGER 

[Accepts  the  correction.]     A  traveller. 

MRS.   SHARPE 

For  pleasure? 

THE  STRANGER 

For  pleasure. 

MRS.   SHARPE 

[She  looks  at  him  again;  it  is  a  puzzling  problem.] 
You  see,  I  have  to  be  perhaps  a  little  particular.  My 
clientele  is  drawn,  as  a  rule,  from  the  higher  middle- 
classes.  [The  stranger  gives  his  grave  attention.] 
At  the  present  moment  I  have  staying  with  me  the 
cousin  to  a  baronet.  Representing  capital,  we  have 
Mr.  Samuels,  the  great  silver-mine  proprietor.  We 
have  also  a  retired  Major  and  family — highly  con- 
nected. Mr.  Penny,  the  eminent  artist — you  may  have 
heard  of  him 

THE  STRANGER 

I  live  so  out  of  the  world. 

MRS.   SHARPE 

— Has  his  studio  at  the  top  of  the  house.     My  first 

[57] 


The  Passing  of  the  Third  Floor  Back 

floor  is  occupied  by  an  exceedingly  wealthy  man — for 
years  a  prominent  figure  in  the  sporting  world.  In- 
deed, I  may  say  that  all  our  little  circle  are  persons  of 
more  or  less  distinction. 

THE  STRANGER 

It  will  be  a  privilege  to  meet  them. 

MRS.  SHARPE 

[She  flashes  a  suspicious  glance,  but  encounters 
only  his  eyes  of  grave  sincerity.  ]  My  charges,  as  you 
will  understand,  are  of  necessity  a  little  more  than 
those  of  the  common  boarding-house. 

THE  STRANGER 

That  is  only  to  be  expected. 

MRS.  SHARPE 

[Bows.]  For  the  room  I  have  to  offer  you:  a 
charming  apartment  on  the — just  above  the  second 
floor ;  together  with  full  board,  consisting  of 

THE   STRANGER 

[He  smiles  away  the  details.]  Of  everything  that 
is  needful.     It  goes  without  saying. 

MRS.   SHARPE 

[Bows  again.]  I  usually  ask  two  pounds  ten  a 
week.  [He  may  be  about  to  speak;  she  waves  him 
back  into  patience.]     To  you,  seeing  you — [she  can- 

[58] 


The  Passing  of  the  Third  Floor  Back 

not    think   of  any   other   reason] — are   a  traveller — 
[with  a  burst  of  generosity] — we'll  say  two  pounds. 

THE  STRANGER 

But  is  that  quite  fair? 

MRS.  SHARPE 

[Ready  for  battle.]     Fair! 

THE  STRANGER 

To  you.  I  am  not  a  rich  man — as  you,  with  your 
quick  woman's  sympathy,  have  divined.  But  I  have 
sufficient.     I  can  afford  to  pay  you  your  proper  price. 

MRS.   SHARPE 

The  two  pounds  will  be  quite  satisfactory. 

THE  STRANGER 

You  are  sure? 

MRS.  SHARPE 

Quite  sure. 

THE  STRANGER 

It  is  very  kind  of  you — very  kind  indeed. 

MRS.   SHARPE 

[Again  the  bow.]     Gas,  of  course,  will  be  an  extra. 

THE  STRANGER 

Of  course. 

[59l 


The  Passing  of  the  Third  Floor  Back 

MRS.  SHARPE 

Coals 

THE  STRANGER 

[Again  he  smiles  away  her  details.]  We  shall  not 
quarrel.  You  have  been  so  very  considerate  as  it  is,  I 
feel  I  can  leave  myself  entirely  in  your  hands. 

MRS.  SHARPE 

Well,  I  always  try  to  be  fair,  and [She  looks 

up  and  meets  his  gaze  full  upon  her;  an  embarrassed 
silence  falls  upon  her.]  Do  you  ever  get  taken  in — 
cheated  ? 

THE  STRANGER 

[Smiling.]     Sometimes — by  cheats. 
[A  silence.] 

MRS.   SHARPE 

How  do  you  know  I'm  not  one  ? 

THE  STRANGER 

We  old  travellers — it  is  a  conceit  of  ours  that  we 
can  tell  ladies  and  gentlemen  from  cheats. 

MRS.  SHARPE 

You  think  a  lodging-house  keeper  can  be  a  lady  ? 

THE  STRANGER 

Why  not  ? 

[60] 


The  Passing  of  the  Third  Floor  Back 

MRS.  SHARPE 

No,  I  suppose  there's  no  reason.     In  my  own  case, 
as  it  happens,  I  really  am  a  lady. 

THE  STRANGER 

You  see,  I  was  right. 

MRS.  SHARPE 

My  late  husband  was  a  solicitor.  I  used  to  have 
my  At  Homes  in  this  very  room — on  third  Fridays. 

THE  STRANGER 

And  it  is  the  third  Friday  of  the  month  to-day. 

MRS.  SHARPE 

Why,  so  it  is.  I  had  forgotten.  [Remembering, 
becomes  the  landlady  again.]  Would  you  like  to  go 
up  to  your  room  now?  We  dine  at  six-thirty.  [She 
rises.  ] 

THE  STRANGER 

[Rising.]    Thank  you.    That  will  just  give  me  time. 

MRS.  SHARPE 

I'll   just   see   first   that   everything [He   has 

taken  up  his  hat  and  stick,  and  is  moving  towards  the 
door.  She  pauses.]  Did  I  say  two  pounds  a  week? 
[Something  is  worrying  her;  it  causes  her  to  speak  in 
an  angry,  aggressive  tone.] 

[61] 


The  Passing  of  the  Third  Floor  Back 

THE  STRANGER 

It  should  have  been  two  pounds  ten.  You  were 
kind  enough  to  reduce  it 

MRS.  SHARPE 

I  must  have  been  thinking  of  some  other  room.  It 
should  have  been  one  pound  ten. 

THE  STRANGER 

[Stops.]  Then  I  decline  to  take  it.  The  two 
pounds  I  can  well  afford. 

MRS.  SHARPE 

One  pound  ten  are  my  terms.  If  you  are  bent 
on  paying  more,  you  can  go  elsewhere.  You'll  find 
plenty  to  oblige  you. 

THE  STRANGER 

[He  looks  at  her.]  Women  are  so  wilful.  [Smil- 
ing] And  you  kind  women  are  the  worst  of  all. 
[He  has  taken  her  hand.     She  laughs.] 

[They  go  out.] 

[stasia  enters  by  the  folding  doors.  She  goes  to 
sideboard;  takes  from  a  drawer  some  napkins;  brings 
them  to  the  table.  She  forgets  them,  stands  idly  by 
the  table  gazing  out  of  the  window,  mrs.  sharpe  re- 
enters,    stasia,  dreaming,  neither  sees  nor  hears  her. 

[62] 


The  Passing  of  the  Third  Floor  Back 

mrs.  sharpe  stands  for  awhile  looking  at  her.  A  new 
look  has  come  into  mrs.  sharpe's  face,  a  new  note 
in  her  voice,  a  new  spirit  has  stolen  into  the  house.] 

MRS.  SHARPE 

What  are  you  looking  at  ? 

STASIA 

[She  wakes  with  a  start.]  Nothin'.  [Begins  fold- 
ing the  napkins.] 

MRS.  SHARPE 

[She  comes  nearer;  looks  again  at  the  little  pale 
face.]  Like  to  put  on  your  hat — get  a  breath  of  fresh 
air  before  dinner? 

STASIA 

[Stares.]     D'ye  mean  it? 

MRS.  SHARPE 

[Takes  the  napkins  quietly  from  her.]  I'll  finish 
laying  the  table.    Don't  be  too  long. 

STASIA 

[She  is  off;  half-way  to  the  door  something  sud- 
denly stops  her.]     Sure  you  can  spare  me? 

MRS.  SHARPE 

That'll  be  all  right. 

[63] 


The  Passing  of  the  Third  Floor  Back 

STASIA 

I  won't  be  long.     [She  runs  swiftly  out.] 

MRS.  SHARPE 

[She  goes  on  folding  up  the  napkins.  Then  she, 
too,  forgets  them.  They  fall  from  her  hand.  A 
smile  gradually  breaks  over  the  old  face,  strangely 
altering  it;  she,  too,  seems  to  be  falling  into  a  way 
of  dreaming.  ]  "  And  you  kind  women  are  the  worst 
of  all."  [She  whispers  the  words,  the  while  her  up- 
lifted face  becomes  transformed  with  a  great  tender- 
ness as  towards  all  things.] 

THE   CURTAIN   FALLS 


[64I 


CHARACTERS  IN  THE  PLAY 


Joey  Wright 

Christopher  Penny 

Major  Tompkins 

Mrs.  Tompkins 

Vivian 

Jape  Samuels    . 

Harry  Larkcom 

Miss  Kite 

Mrs.  Per  rival  de  Hooley 

Stasia 

Mrs.  Sharpe 

The  Third  Floor  Back. 


A  Retired  Bookmaker. 

A  Painter. 

Retired. 

His  Wife. 

His  Daughter. 

Of  the  City. 

His  Jackal. 

Unattached. 

Cousin  to  Sir  George 

Tweedle,  Bart. 
The  Slavey. 
The  Landlady. 


[65] 


THE  PLAY 

SCENE 

The  same.  It  is  dark.  A  faint  glow  from  the  fire 
intensifies  the  shadows.  The  light  from  the  dining- 
room  outlines  the  folding  doors.  The  light  from 
the  street  lamps  without  struggles  faint  and  mysteri- 
ous through  the  windows.  The  two  easy-chairs 
have  been  placed  one  each  side  of  the  fire. 

[stasia  enters;  leaves  the  door  open  behind  her. 
The  light  from  the  passage  lifts  a  little  the  darkness 
of  the  room.  She  strikes  a  match,  climbs  upon  a 
chair  and  lights  the  three  branches  of  the  gaselier. 
And  the  room  takes  three  strides  into  feeble  light. 
An  improvement  has  taken  place  in  stasia's  appear- 
ance.    Her  hair  is  tidier,  her  face  and  hands  cleaner.  ] 

[A  sound  as  of  a  sudden  burst  of  talking  after  a 
silence  is  heard  from  the  next  room.,  stasia  stands 
a  moment  listening;  it  dies.  She  crosses  to  the  win- 
dows, pidls  down  the  blinds,  arranges  the  curtains.] 

[67] 


The  Passing  of  the  Third  Floor  Back 

[vivian  comes  in.  She  is  in  evening  dress,  some- 
what decollete.] 

VIVIAN 

Haven't  they  finished  dinner  yet? 

STASIA 

[She  goes  to  the  folding  doors  and  peeps  through 
the  keyhole.]  They're  a-toying  with  the  dessert. 
Why  didn't  you  come  down?  Off  your  feed?  [Her 
voice  has  changed — has  taken  to  itself  a  childish  note.] 

VIVIAN 

[Who  has  seated  herself  in  one  of  the  easy-chairs.] 
I  had  a  headache.  [She  has  taken  an  illustrated  pa- 
per from  the  table.] 

STASIA 

Going  out  to  the  theatre,  ain't  you? 

VIVIAN 

Yes. 

STASIA 

With  the  old'un? 

VIVIAN 

Will  you  kindly  mind  your  own  business? 

STASIA 

Suppose  I  oughtn't  to  blime  you.     [She  speaks  more 

[68] 


The  Passing  of  the  Third  Floor  Back 

to  herself  than  to  vivian,  who,  glancing  through  her 
paper,  appears  to  take  no  notice.]  We've  all  of  us 
got  to  live — somehow.  [Aloud]  You  ain't  seen  the 
new  lodger? 

VIVIAN 

Oh !    Is  there  a  new  lodger? 

STASIA 

Came  this  evening,  just  before  dinner.  [There  is 
something  in  stasia's  voice  which  causes  vivian  to 
glance  round  at  her.] 

VIVIAN 

[She  turns  again  to  her  paper.  ]    What's  he  like  ? 

STASIA 

[She  comes  to  vivian.]     This  ain't  all  the  world,  is 

it? 

VIVIAN 

[Looking  up.]     What  do  you  mean? 

STASIA 

Us  sort.  [With  a  gesture.]  All  a-lyin'  and 
a-cheatin'  and  a-snarlin' — despisin'  one  another — and 
ourselves.    Ain't  there  anything  else? 

[A  silence.] 

[69] 


The  Passing  of  the  Third  Floor  Back 

VIVIAN 

Yes.  There  are  sweet  thoughts.  And  fine  feelings. 
And  self-respect.  [She  turns  to  stasia.]  But  such 
things,  Stasia,  are  only  for  rich  folk. 

STASIA 

[She  goes  slowly  towards  the  door.]  Bit  'ard  on 
us  poor.     [Goes  out.] 

[vivian  drops  her  paper;  sits  staring  into  the  fire  a 
few  moments.  The  folding  doors  open,  letting  in  the 
sound  from  the  dining-room.  MRS.  major  tompkins 
enters  and  closes  the  door  behind  her.  She  is  dressed 
quietly  and  effectively.  With  her  entrance  the  at- 
mosphere changes.] 

MRS.  TOMPKINS 

How's  your  headache? 

VIVIAN 

I  think  it  will  be  all  right. 

MRS.  TOMPKINS 

You  didn't  miss  much.  I  could  have  eaten  an 
artichoke.  Of  course  your  father  grabs  the  dish  and 
clears  the  lot.  You  know,  you  can  afford  to  show  a 
bit  more  shoulder.  [She  goes  to  rearrange  the  girl's 
dress.] 

[70] 


The  Passing  of  the  Third  Floor  Baek 

VIVIAN 

[Shrinking  away.]  Don't,  please.  I  hate  being 
mauled. 

MRS.  TOMPKINS 

Funny  girl  you  are!  If  you  can't  bear  your  own 
mother 

VIVIAN 

It's  only  this  evening.  I'm  feeling  irritable.  [Her 
eyes  still  on  the  paper.]     What's  the  new  lodger  like? 

MRS.  TOMPKINS 

Don't  like  him. 

VIVIAN 

Why  not  ? 

MRS.   TOMPKINS 

I  can't  explain  it.  He  makes  you  feel  uncomfort- 
able.      [Resentfully]       His    mere    presence    in    the 

room [She  is  at  table  choosing  a  paper,  her  back 

to  the  dining-room.] 

[The  folding  doors  have  opened,  miss  kite,  fol- 
lowed by  mrs.  de  hooley,  is  entering:  miss  kite  in 
what  she  herself  would  call  a  "  killing  "  costume;  MRS. 
de  hooley  in  "  semi  "-toilette.] 

[7i] 


The  Passing  of  the  Third  Floor  Back 

VIVIAN 

Quick ! — quick ! 

[mrs.  tompkins  understands,  but  reaches  the  only 
remaining  easy-chair  a  second  behind  the  kite 
woman,  who  slips  down  into  it  triumphant,  mrs. 
tompkins,  giving  her  a  "look,"  passes  on  with  osten- 
tatious indifference,  and  seats  herself  near  the  table.] 

MRS.  DE  HOOLEY 

[Taking  a  chair  by  vivian.]  So  sorry  to  hear  of 
your  headache. 

VIVIAN 

It's  better  now. 

MRS.  DE  HOOLEY 

So  glad.    You  haven't  seen  our  new  guest? 

VIVIAN 

I  have  been  hearing  about  him. 

MRS.  DE  HOOLEY 

He  reminds  me  so  of  somebody  I've  met  some- 
where.    [She  thinks  a  moment.)    Long  ago. 

MISS  KITE 

Well,  so  far  as  I  can  understand,  she  picked  him 
up  out  of  the  street:  not  even  a  reference. 

[72] 


The  Passing  of  the  Third  Floor  Back 

MRS.  TOMPKINS 

Do  you  mean  that  she  has  dared  to  introduce  among 
ladies  and  gentlemen 

MISS  KITE 

My  dear,  a  mere  passer-by. 

MRS.  TOMPKINS 

I  thought  there  was  something  very  wrong  about 
him. 

MISS  KITE 

We  don't  know  who  he  may  be. 

[jape  samuels  has  entered  from  the  dining-room 
closing  the  door  behind  him.  He  is  smoking  a  fat 
cigar.  He  wears  evening-dress — dinner-jacket — and 
one  enormous  diamond  stud.] 

MRS.  TOMPKINS 

[To  jape.]     What  do  you  think  of  him? 

SAMUELS 

[He  is  at  table  selecting  a  paper,  his  back  to  the 
others.]  Of  the  latetht  addition  to  our  little  menad- 
therie?  Well,  to  begin  with,  he'th  not  my  idea  of  a 
thentleman. 

173] 


The  Passing  of  the  Third  Floor  Back 

MISS  KITE 

Looks  to  me  as  if  he'd  got  money.  [She  winks  at 
mrs.  tompkins,  who  smiles  back.] 

SAMUELS 

[Turns  sharply.]  Why?  What  makth  you  think 
that? 

MISS  KITE 

I  don't  know.    He  gives  me  that  impression. 

SAMUELS 

Dethent  enough  thort  of  a  chap,  I  darethay,  in  all 
other  rethpecth.  We  can't  help  what  we  are  born. 
[He  has  the  "Evening  Standard"  {white),  "Globe" 
{pink),  and  "Westminster"  {green),  in  his  hand. 
He  places  them  one  inside  the  other,  so  that  only  the 
"Standard"  shows.     He  sits  near  the  table.] 

[Then  enter  the  major  and  wright,  arm-in-arm, 
followed  by  larkcom.  wright  is  in  evening-dress, 
gorgeous  with  jewellery;  the  major  is  also  in  evening- 
dress;  larkcom  wears  his  check  suit,  larkcom 
closes  the  door  and  joins  samuels.  wright  and  the 
major  are  laughing — the  major  boisterously,  wright 
voicelessly.  wright  has  been  telling  the  major  a 
smutty  story.] 

[74] 


The  Passing  of  the  Third  Floor  Back 

MAJOR 

Best  story  I've  ever  heard !  "  She'd  taken  them 
with  her."  [Laughs  again  and  digs  him  in  the  ribs.] 
I  must  remember  that  one. 

VIVIAN 

[At  entrance  of  her  father  she  crosses  to  the  desk, 
where  she  seats  herself,  her  back  to  the  room,  and 
writes  or  pretends  to  write  a  letter.] 

[The  moment  she  vacates  the  chair,  mrs.  de 
hooley  rises  to  take  it  but  larkcom  darts  across  and 
flings  himself  into  it  just  in  front  of  her.] 

LARKCOM 

Won  by  a  neck.  [Laughs  at  her,  settles  himself, 
and  takes  out  his  pipe,  which  he  fills  and  lights.] 

MRS.  DE  HOOLEY 

[She  bestows  disdain  upon  larkcom  ;  then  goes  to 
small  work-table ,  fetches  her  work-basket  and  brings 
it  to  the  table,  where  she  sits  within  whispering  dis- 
tance of  miss  kite.] 

MAJOR 

[Crosses  to  table  and  turns  over  the  papers.]  Any- 
body seen  the  "Globe"?  [To  samuels]  What  pa- 
per have  you  got? 

[75l 


The  Passing  of  the  Third  Floor  Back 

SAMUELS 

[Shows  him  the  outside  one.]     Thtandard. 

MAJOR 

Where  the  devil  has  the  "Globe"  got  to?     [He 

goes  on  tour  of  discovery.] 

MRS.  TOMPKINS 

[She  touches  wright,  who  has  taken  the  chair 
vacated  by  mrs.  de  hooley.]  She'll  be  ready  in  a 
few  minutes.    What  do  you  think  of  the  new  boarder? 

WRIGHT 

[Shakes  his  head.]     Not  my  fancy. 

larkcom 

[Turning  to  wright.]  He's  got  no  conversation — 
not  what  /  call  conversation. 

major 

I  found  him  a  fool.  [He  has  rummaged  among 
the  music  on  the  piano— glanced  in  passing  at  the 
desk.] 

MRS.  TOMPKINS 

[With  a  laugh.]  Yes,  I  noticed  you  and  he  seemed 
to  be  getting  on  very  well  together. 

[stasia  has  entered,  more  or  less  unnoticed.  She 
brings  the  coffee  in  on  tray.] 

[76] 


The  Passing  of  the  Third  Floor  Back 

STASIA 

[She  stops  first  in  front  of  mrs.  tompkins.]  Kau- 
fee. 

[mrs.  tompkins  takes  a  cup.] 

[The  major  goes  to  table,  snatches  a  paper  and 
seats  himself  between  the  table  and  mrs.  de  hooley. 
stasia  goes  her  round  with  the  coffee.] 

WRIGHT 

[To  mrs.  tompkins.]  We  don't  want  him  here. 
Spoils  the  party. 

LARKCOM 

He's  not  our  class. 

miss  kite 

I  can't  make  out  whether  he's  a  young  man  trying 
to  look  old,  or  an  old  man  trying  to  look  young. 

MAJOR 

I  hate  a  man  with  eyes  that  you  can't  get  away 
from. 

MRS.  de  hooley 

[In  her  soft,  slow  voice,  still  dreaming.]  It  was  a 
long  time  ago. 

[77] 


The  Passing  of  the  Third  Floor  Back 

MRS.  TOMPKINS 

We  must  make  it  plain  to  him  that  he's  not  wanted. 

WRIGHT 

[To  larkcom.]  Yes.  You're  good  at  "chipping*" 
people.     Make  it  uncomfortable  for  him. 

LARKCOM 

[Nods  and  laughs.]  We'll  have  a  bit  of  fun  with 
him. 

SAMUELS 

Oh !  leave  him  alone.  He'll  learn  our  wayth  all 
right. 

[Christopher  has  entered.] 

CHRISTOPHER 

Unless  we  first  learn  his. 

[vivian,  who  has  been  listening,  turns  round.] 

MRS.   TOMPKINS 

Learn  his!     [Snorts  indignantly.] 

MAJOR 

[With  a  snort — under  his  breath.]     Young  puppy! 

[kite  has  looked  round,  larkcom  smokes,  jape 
has  glanced  up.  wright  gives  vent  to  a  feeble  sneer. 
hooley  is  still  dreaming.] 

[78] 


The  Passing  of  the  Third  Floor  Back 

VIVIAN 

[stasia  has  just  reached  her  with  the  coffee.]  No, 
thank  you. 

STASIA 

Gar  on.  Do  your  'eadache  good. 

VIVIAN 

[She  looks  at  her  and  smiles;  then  takes  it.]  Do 
you  mind  getting  me  my  cloak?  It's  on  the  bed. 
Sure  you  don't  mind  ? 

STASIA 

Not  when  you  speak  like  that.     [She  goes  out.] 

MRS.   TOMPKINS 

Are  you  ready,  dear? 

VIVIAN 

Yes.     [Rises.]     Stasia  has  just  gone  for  my  cloak. 

MRS.   TOMPKINS 

[Rising.]     You'll  take  care  of  her. 

WRIGHT 

[Who  has  risen.]     That's  all  right. 

MAJOR 

[Rises.]  That's  all  right.  He'll  take  care  of  our 
little  girl  for  us.     [He  Herns  to  his  zuife.] 

[79] 


The  Passing  of  the  Third  Floor  Back 

[vivian  has  come  down,  wright  is  standing  near 
to  her.] 

MAJOR 

[He  indicates  them  with  a  wave  of  the  hand.  The 
fond  tears  are  in  his  voice.]     May  and — July. 

LARKCOM 

[He  springs  up,  and  with  half  a  dozen  steps  is  at 
the  piano.  He  thunders  out  Mendelssohn's  Wedding 
March.] 

[the  major,  beaming,  beats  time  with  his  hand 
and  his  head,  samuels  has  risen  and  moved  round  to 
the  top  of  the  table  to  look  for  new  papers.  Chris- 
topher is  also  selecting  a  paper,  stasia  has  re-en- 
tered, with  Vivian's  cloak,  wright  takes  the  cloak 
from  stasia,  and  puts  it  over  Vivian's  shoulders. 
mrs.  sharpe  enters.  A  screen  of  people  has  thus 
been  formed,  shutting  off  vivian's  view.  Behind  it 
the  stranger,  unnoticed,  has  entered.  As  vivian 
turns  to  go  out  with  wright,  the  stranger  stands 
before  her.  The  quiet  eyes  are  fixed  on  her — those 
eyes  that  seem  to  have  seen  all  the  sorrows  of  the 
tvorld,  great  and  little.  The  cloak  falls  from  her 
shoulders  to  the  floor  about  her  feet.  And  a  silence 
has  also  entered.     The  Wedding  March  dies  away  ] 

[80] 


The  Passing  of  the  Third  Floor  Back 

MRS.  TOMPKINS 

[Who   sees   only   vivian    rooted   to   the  ground.] 
What's  the  matter  ? 

VIVIAN 

[She  turns  her  eyes  to  her  mother.]  I  am  sorry. 
I  cannot — I  shall  not  be  able  to  go  to-night. 

MAJOR 

But,  my  dear ! 

VIVIAN 

[She  turns  again,  her  eyes  upon  the  stranger.] 
I  can't !— I  can't ! 

THE  STRANGER 

[He  passes  on.] 

VIVIAN 

I'm  sorry.  [To  wright.]  Some  other  evening. 
[Stooping  swiftly,  she  picks  up  her  cloak,  wraps  it 
tightly  round  her  as  one  who  is  cold,  and  with  bowed 
head  passes  hurriedly  from  the  room.] 

MRS.  TOMPKINS 

It's  the  heat  of  the  room.  She  hasn't  been  well 
alt  day.     [To  the  major.]     Don't  you  come.     [She 

follows  VIVIAN  OUt.] 

[81] 


The  Passing  of  the  Third  Floor  Back 

MRS.  SHARPE 

It  is  a  bit  close  in  here.  Shall  we  have  the  window 
open? 

MISS  KITE 

/  should  like  it. 

STASIA 

I'll  see  to  it.  [She  opens  one  of  the  windows,  after- 
wards taking  up  the  tray  she  had  left  on  the  desk. 
She  goes  out.} 

[samuels,  having  selected  a  newspaper,  has  re- 
seated himself.} 

MAJOR 

[To  wright.]  Poor  girl!  She'll  be  so  disap- 
pointed. 

[ wright  answers  with  a  snarl.] 

MAJOR 

[Coaxingly.]  Play  you  fifty  up.  Then  we'll  see 
how  she  is.     Can  we  have  the  table,  Mrs.  Sharpe? 

MRS.  SHARPE 

Certainly.  I'll  go  and  get  it  ready  for  you. 
[She  goes  out.] 

[82] 


The  Passing;  of  the  Third  Floor  Back 


ie 


MAJOR 

Ah,  thank  you.  [Taking  wright's  arm,  he  leads 
him  out.]  Troublesome  creatures,  these  girls! — trou- 
blesome creatures !  Yet  what  could  we  do  without 
them?    What  could  we  do [He  closes  the  door 

behind  them.] 

[Christopher  crosses  and  sits  in  easy-chair  by  fire. 
He  makes  to  read;  but  every  now  and  again  the  paper 
drops;  he  stares  into  the  fire.] 

[mrs.  de  hooley  from  time  to  time,  leaning  across, 
whispers  to  the  kite  woman,  who  sometimes  answers, 
but  more  often  she  is  preoccupied,  covertly  watching 
the  stranger,  larkcom  has  remained  silent,  watch- 
ing events.] 

THE  stranger 

How  well  you  play ! 

LARKCOM 

[He   swings    round    on    his   stool.]      Hullo! — you 

there,     old     cockerlor [He     encounters    the 

stranger's    eyes.     Somehow   they   put    him    out    of 
countenance.]     Think  so? 

THE  STRANGER 

You  have  the  touch  of  one  who  loves  music. 

[83] 


The  Passing  of  the  Third  Floor  Back 

LARKCOM 

Here.  [He  rises,  grins  up  into  the  stranger's 
face.]  What's  the  little  game?  Want  to  borrow 
money  ? 

THE  STRANGER 

You  see,  it  would  be  of  no  use.  You  see  through 
me  at  once. 

LARKCOM 

[the  stranger  is  smiling.  He  turns  azvay, 
ashamed  of  himself.]  Only  my  bit  of  fun.  [By  way 
of  explanation]  My  weak  spot — anybody  telling  me  I 

know   anything  about   music.      Here   of   course 

[With  disgust]  Ah !    All  they  understand  is  "  Tumpty, 
tumpty,  turn." 

THE  STRANGER 

And  so  you  give  them — what  they  understand. 

LARKCOM 

Oh  well!  somebody's  got  to  do  something  to  liven 
things  up  a  bit. 

THE  STRANGER 

Ah!  yes.  [He  puts  a  hand  on  the  lad's  shoulder.] 
Some  kind,  good-natured  body. 

LARKCOM 

Oh  well !  it  comes  easy — and  I  like  doing  it. 

[84] 


The  Passing  of  the  Third  Floor  Back 

THE  STRANGER 

Yes. 

LARKCOM 

[There  is  something  about  the  stranger  that  in- 
vites confidence.]  My  idea  was  to  have  been  an  en- 
tertainer. 

THE  STRANGER 

It  was  a  good  idea.  You  would  have  succeeded,  I 
am  sure. 

LARKCOM 

You  see,  I've  got  a  voice. 

THE  STRANGER 

And  you  have  humour  and  a  sense  of  fun.  One 
reads  it  in  your  eyes. 

LARKCOM 

[Suspicious  for  an  instant — till  he  looks  into  the 
stranger's  eyes.]  That's  right.  Why,  sometimes — 
when  I  like  to  take  the  trouble — I'll  have  'em  all  round 
me  here,  laughing.  Not  an  easy  crowd  to  start,  mind 
you. 

THE  STRANGER 

It  is  your  vocation.  It  would  be  wrong  of  you  to 
waste  your  gifts. 

[85] 


The  Passing  of  the  Third  Floor  Back 

LARKCOM 

Question  is,  would  it  pay? 

THE  STRANGER 

I  think  it  would.  And  then,  that  is  not  the  only 
question,  is  it?  You  would  be  giving  pleasure  to  so 
many. 

LARKCOM 

"  Giving !  "  Here,  don't  you  run  away  with  the 
notion  that  Harry  Larkcom  is  a  philanthropist. 
What's  it  going  to  put  into  little  Harry's  money-box? 
[He  slaps  his  pocket.]  That's  the  question  little 
Harry  always  asks  himself. 

THE  STRANGER 

Always?    Are  you  sure? 

LARKCOM 

Ami 


THE  STRANGER 

You  play  them  "  Tumpty,  tumpty,  turn."    Why  ? 

LARKCOM 

Why !    Because 

THE  STRANGER 

Does  it  give  you  any  pleasure — you,  a  musician ! 
Does  it  add  anything  to  the  "  money-box  "  ?     [  The 

[86] 


The  Passing  of  the  Third  Floor  Back 

lad  stares.]  No.  You  do  it  because  you  are  just  a 
good  fellow.  You  will  have  them  all  around  you, 
laughing.  Wherever  you  are,  life  shall  be  a  little 
brighter;  dull,  tired  faces  shall  be  made  to  smile. 
You  give  them — so  much  more  than  money.  You 
give  them — yourself.  Don't  you  call  that  being  a 
philanthropist? 

LARKCOM 

Of  course,  you  can  put  it  that  way. 

THE  STRANGER 

What  other  way  ? 

LARKCOM 

I  do  like  seeing  people  jolly  round  about  me ;  hear- 
ing them  whispering  to  one  another  that  Harry  Lark- 
com's  the  life  and Gar  on !  Who  are  you  get- 
ting at? — you  and  your  philanthropists!  I  just  like 
their  admiration  and  applause.    That's  all  I  do  it  for. 

THE  STRANGER 

Their  gratitude,  their  appreciation.  Are  you  not 
entitled  to  it  ? 

LARKCOM 

You  are  determined 


[87] 


The  Passing  of  the  Third  Floor  Back 

THE  STRANGER 

The  thanks  of  those  you  serve:  that  is  the  true 
"  pay  "  of  the  artist. 

LARKCOM 

Here.     Am  I  an  artist  now? 

THE  STRANGER 

And  the  artist  is  always  a  philanthropist,  serving 
his  fellow-men,  not  only  for  the  sake  of  the  money- 
box. 

LARKCOM 

I  wonder.  My  old  mother  always  would  put  it  that 
way.  "  Harry's  never  so  happy,"  she  would  say,  "  as 
when  he's  making  other  people  happy." 

THE  STRANGER 

Ah!  she  knew  you.  She  would  have  been  so  proud 
of  you. 

LARKCOM 

Well,  it  would  be  better  than  the  sort  of  jobs  I'm 
doing  now. 

THE  STRANGER 

You  will  forgive  me.  I  have  seen  it  so  often.  You 
artists  are  never  content  doing  any  other  work  than 
your  own.    All  the  rest  is  waste  of  time. 

[88] 


The  Passing  of  the  Third  Floor  Back 

LARKCOM 

Would  you  mind  one  day  my  trying  over  one  or  two 
little  things  of  my  own  on  you? 

THE  STRANGER 

I  should  be  delighted. 

LARKCOM 

Honour  bright? 

THE  STRANGER 

Honour  bright!  It  will  be  pleasant — looking  back 
— to  think  that  I  perhaps  was  of  help  to  you  in  the 
beginning. 

LARKCOM 

Don't  say  anything  about  it  to  any  of  the  others. 
[the  stranger  signifies  understanding.  ]  "  Harry 
Larkcom — artist !  " 

THE  STRANGER 

[Smiling.]     And  philanthropist. 

LARKCOM 

And  philanthropist.  [Laughs.]  Good-night,  in 
case  I  don't  see  you  again — [holds  out  his  hand] — 
partner. 

THE  STRANGER 

Good-night,  partner. 

[89] 


The  Passing  of  the  Third  Floor  Back 

[larkcom  crosses.] 

SAMUELS 

[Stops  him  as  he  passes.]     Think  he'th  got  any 

money  ? 

LARKCOM 

Oh !  you  find  out  for  yourself. 

SAMUELS 

[Rising.]    Ain't  you  learned  anything?    What  have 
you  been  talking  about  ? 

LARKCOM 

Want  to  know?    Art  and  philanthropy.     [Goes  out, 
slamming  the  door.] 

SAMUELS 

Art  and !    Here,  Henry.     [Follows  him  out.] 

[mrs.  de  hooley  has  risen  and  put  aside  her  work 
in  its  basket  on  the  table.] 

CHRISTOPHER 

[Rising.]    Would  you  like  this  chair? 

MRS.  DE  HOOLEY 

Thank  you,  I  should  have  been  glad  of  it  earlier  in 
the  evening.    [Passes  on.] 

[90] 


The  Passing  of  the  Third  Floor  Back 

MISS  KITE 

You're  not  going,  dear? 

MRS.  DE  HOOLEY 

Only  to  write  a  few  letters.  [She  seats  herself 
at  desk,  her  back  to  the  room.] 

[Christopher  takes  samuels'  vacated  chair  at 
table;  busies  himself  drawing  sketches  on  the  mar- 
gins of  newspapers,  the  stranger  has  drawn  near 
to  where  miss  kite  still  sits.] 

MISS  KITE 

[To  the  stranger,  indicating  the  vacant  easy-chair 
opposite  to  her.]     Sit  down.    Talk  to  me. 

[the  stranger  draws  the  chair  nearer;  takes  his 
seat.] 

miss  kite 

I  am  going  to  make  you  a  confession.  I'm  afraid 
you'll  think  it  fearfully  bold  of  me.  [Giggles.]  But, 
you  know,  you  interest  me. 

the  stranger 

I  am  so  glad.    I  wish  so  much  to  interest  you. 

miss  kite 
Now,  that's  a  very  pretty  speech.    I  wonder  if  you 

really  mean  it.     You  men  are  so [She  raises 

[91] 


The  Passing  of  the  Third  Floor  Back 

her  eyes,  meaning  to  give  him  one  of  her  "  killing  " 
glances.  The  stranger's  quiet,  grave  eyes  are  fixed 
on  her.  The  giggle  and  the  gush  begin  to  fall  from 
her.]    Why  should  you  wish  to  interest  me? 

THE  STRANGER 

Because  you  are  clever  and  witty.  And  the  clever, 
witty  woman  can  be  so  delightful  a  friend. 

[A  silence. ] 

MISS  KITE 

[She  is  staring  straight  in  front  of  her:  a  suddenly 
serious  person.  ]     You  think  me  clever,  witty  ? 

THE  STRANGER 

[Smiling.]    You  do  not  agree  with  me? 

MISS  KITE 

[Drily.]  You  have  made  the  discovery  on  a  some- 
what slight  acquaintanceship.  This  is  the  first  time 
we  have  spoken. 

THE  STRANGER 

But  I  have  had  the  privilege  of  listening.  You 
should  not  talk  before  those  from  whom  you  wish  to 
keep  it  a  secret. 

MISS  KITE 

I [She  smiles — she  cannot  help  it.]    I  did  not 

[92] 


The  Passing  of  the  Third  Floor  Back 

think  you  were  listening  so  attentively.  [She  turns  to 
him  with  sudden  anxiety.]  I  hope  you  didn't  think 
that  I  was  at  all — at  all  spiteful,  in  any  of  my  re- 
marks ? 

THE  STRANGER 

A  little — caustic.  It  is  a  mistake  witty  talkers  so 
often  make.    You  could  afford  to  do  without  it. 

MISS  KITE 

[Looking  into  the  fire  again.]  I  suppose  one  grows 
bitter  as  one  grows  old.      [Remembering  herself]   I 

mean,  of  course [the  stranger's  eyes  confuse 

her.  ] 

THE  STRANGER 

But  you  have  not  even  that  excuse.  You  are  not 
old. 

MISS  KITE 

Well,  I'm — [she  struggles,  but  the  stranger's  eyes 
insist  upon  the  truth] — I'm  forty.  You  don't  call  that 
young,  do  you? 

THE  STRANGER 

Young  enough  not  to  have  forgotten  the  thoughts 
of  youth ;  old  enough  to  have  learnt  pity.  Forty ! 
Why  that  is  a  beautiful  age. 

[93l 


The  Passing  of  the  Third  Floor  Back 

MISS  KITE 

[She  is  angry  with  the  stranger,  with  herself.] 
Oh  yes,  I  dare  say.  Any  age,  I  expect,  you  would 
think  beautiful.     Perhaps  you  think  /  am  beautiful. 

THE  STRANGER 

[Gravely  looking  at  her.]  Yes,  I  think  you  are 
beautiful — quite  beautiful.  But  you  have  one  failing 
that  mars  it. 

MISS  KITE 

[Snappishly.]  Hadn't  you  better  tell  me  of  it? 
Pity  it  should  be  marred  by  just  one  failing.  I  might 
be  able  to  correct  it. 

THE  STRANGER 

It  is  lack  of  vanity.  [She  glances  suspiciously.  Is 
he  making  game  of  herf]  You  look  into  your  glass 
and  are,  quite  needlessly,  dissatisfied  with  yourself. 
It  is — forgive  me — so  foolish  of  you. 

MISS  KITE 

[She  turns  her  eyes  from  him.]  You  mean  you 
would  like  me  better  without  the  paint  and  the  pow- 
der— and  the  dye. 

THE  STRANGER 

I  think  that  you  yourself — I  may  draw  the  picture? 

[94l 


The  Passing  of  the  Third  Floor  Back 

— a  graceful,  comely  woman,  perhaps  a  little  pale — 
there  are  white  roses  and  red — with  delicate  features 
on  which  the  sculptor  Thought  has  chiselled  his  fine 
lines,  giving  to  them  character,  distinction;  her  still- 
bright  eyes  unspoilt ;  with  her  fit  crown  of  soft  brown 
hair  that  Time  has  touched  with  no  unkindly  hand — 
would  be  the  more  beautiful. 

MISS  KITE 

[Her  eyes  still  turned  away  from  him.]  You  don't 
understand.  The  world  makes  life  hard  to— old 
women. 

THE  STRANGER 

Will  you  not  help  them?  [She  turns  her  eyes  to 
his.]  By  letting  the  world  see  that  "  old  women  "  of 
forty  [he  is  smiling]  can  be  charming. 

MISS  KITE 

[She  rises.]     Good-night. 

THE  STRANGER 

[Rising  also.]    You  are  going? 

MISS  KITE 

To  try  to  forget  all  that  you  have  been  saying. 
Yes,  I  can— and  I  mean  to.  I'm  a  spiteful,  venomous- 
tongued  old  cat— a  painted,  pitiful  creature  without 

[95] 


,The  Passing  of  the  Third  Floor  Back 

self-respect — and  I  hate  you  because  you  have  made 
me  see  myself  as  I  am.    I  hate  you.    I 

[Tlie  folding  doors  open,  wright  and  the  major 
enter,  miss  kite  has  restrained  her  angry  tones  to  a 
whisper,  mrs.  de  hooley  has  continued  her  writing, 
Christopher  his  sketching.] 

MAJOR 

[As  they  enter.]    Ah!  you're  too  good  for  me. 

WRIGHT 

You  weren't  up  to  your  usual  form. 

MAJOR 

Ah!  I'm  no  good  against  a  player  like  you.  [To 
Christopher]  Any  news  from  upstairs? 

CHRISTOPHER 

[Shakes  his  head.]     None. 

MISS  KITE 

[She  has  recovered  her  old  self.  She  speaks  to  im- 
press the  room.]  I  have  enjoyed  our  little  talk  so 
much.    Good-night. 

THE  STRANGER 

Good-night.  [He  holds  out  his  hand.  She  answers 
by  flouncing  out  of  the  room.] 

[96] 


The  Passing  of  the  Third  Floor  Back 

MAJOR 

[To  wright.]  I'll  run  up — see  what's  happening. 
[Finds  himself  in  front  of  the  stranger;  he  stops, 
spreads  out  his  legs,  puts  his  hands  behind  him,  and 
stares  insultingly.]  Well,  what's  going  to  pull  off  the 
Lincolnshire  Handicap !  Tell  me,  and  I'll  go  straight 
out  and  bet  my  boots  upon  it. 

THE  STRANGER 

I  think  you  would  be  ill  advised.  I  am  not  an  au- 
thority. 

MAJOR 

Not  a — Aren't  you  Captain  Spy  of  the  "  Racing 

News"? 

THE  STRANGER 

I  have  not  that  distinction. 

MAJOR 

God  bless  my  soul !  They  told  me  you  were  Cap- 
tain Spy,  travelling  incognito.  [Beginning  a  coarse 
laugh,  he  looks  round  the  room  for  support.  It  is  not 
forthcoming.  The  joke  has  fallen  strangely  flat.] 
Shan't  be  long.  [He  strides  out,  banging  the  door  be- 
hind him.] 

[97] 


The  Passing  of  the  Third  Floor  Back 

WRIGHT 

He  always  will  have  his  little  joke. 

THE  STRANGER 

A  sense  of  humour  is  a  delightful  trait  at  all  times. 

WRIGHT 

I  want  to  ask  you  a  question.  [He  looks  round, 
draws  the  stranger  further  aside.]  "  Heat  of  the 
room "  be  damned.  It  was  the  moment  she  caught 
sight  of  you  that  she  changed — suddenly  discovered 
that  she  wasn't  feeling  well  [with  a  sneering  laugh.] 
What's  the  understanding  between  you  two  ? 

THE  STRANGER 

You  think  it  was  I  who  influenced  her? 

WRIGHT 

I  don't  think  anything  at  all  about  it.  I  was  watch- 
ing.    Her  eyes  were  fixed  on  yours  all  the  time. 

THE  STRANGER 

May  it  not  have  been  merely  her  Better  Self  plead- 
ing to  her? 

WRIGHT 

Her  Better  Self !  What  better  can  she  do  for  her- 
self than  marry  me?  I'm  rich.  Ain't  I  going  to  be 
kind  to  her?     Ain't  I  going  to  settle  money  on  her — 

[981 


The  Passing  of  the  Third  Floor  Back 

money  on  herself,  to  spend  as  she  likes?     [With  in- 
creasing vehemence.]     Ain't  I  good  enough  for  her? 

THE  STRANGER 

And  she?  Would  she  have  been  good  enough  for 
you? 

WRIGHT 

[Puzzled.]     She!    Good  enough  for  me! 

THE  STRANGER 

Taking  all  your  gifts — your  love.  Giving  you  noth- 
ing in  return  but  the  cold  embraces  of  a  shameless 
woman. 

[A  silence.] 

WRIGHT 

You  don't  understand.  The  world  ain't  a  story- 
book— all  Jacks  and  Jills  and  love  in  a  cottage.  The 
girl's  got  to  live. 

THE  STRANGER 

Ay!  To  live!  It  is  a  fine  thing  to  live!  [He 
turns  again  smiling  to  little  Old  Joey.]  You  shall 
give  her  Life! 

WRIGHT 

[Staring.]    Give  her  Life? 

[99] 


The  Passing  of  the  Third  Floor  Back 

THE  STRANGER 

The  lad  she  loves.  [Old  Joey  darts  a  glance  at 
Christopher,  where  he  sits  all  unconscious.]  She 
shall  cleave  to  him,  cherish  him.  She  shall  be  the 
mother  of  children — children  who  shall  crown  her 
brows  with  honour!  Love!  Labour!  That  is  Life 
to  woman.     You  shall  give  her  Life ! 

[Again  a  silence.] 

WRIGHT 

[Peevishly.]  All  jolly  fine.  What  about  me? 
Where  do  I  come  in? 

THE  STRANGER 

Man,  you  love  her? 

WRIGHT 

Yes,  I  know  I  do. 

THE  STRANGER 

Then  it  is  all  quite  simple.  There  is  nothing  else  to 
think  of  but  what  is  best — for  her. 

WRIGHT 

Yes,  there  is.     There's  me.     Ain't  I  got  any  rights? 

THE  STRANGER 

Ah,  yes.     The  right  to  serve. 

[ioo] 


The  Passing  of  the  Third  Floor  Back 

WRIGHT 

Here,  you're  making  a  mistake.  You're  talking  to 
me  as  if  I  were  some  high  and  mighty  Knight  Errant 
sort  of  a  chap.  It's  silly  of  you.  I  ain't  even  a  gen- 
tleman. I'm  only  a  common  little  old  man.  Why,  1 
was  a  bookmaker — that's  all  I  was.  You  know,  a  bet- 
ting man — a  bit  shady  at  that.  Daresay  it's  all  right 
what  you  say.  Only  [he  taps  his  breast;  his  voice  has 
risen  to  a  plaintive  whine;  Self-pity  has  given  to  it 
pathos]  I  ain't  got  it  in  me. 

THE   STRANGER 

Are  you  sure  it  is  I  who  am  making  the  mistake  ? 

WRIGHT 

[He  makes  a  gesture  of  the  hands,  and,  shaking  his 
head,  creeps  to  the  easy-chair.  Sits  crouching  with 
his  hands  stretched  out  to  the  fire.] 

THE  STRANGER 

You  are  so  sure,  [smiling]  "  Sir  Joseph ! " 

WRIGHT 

[He  turns.]  How  did  you  know  that  used  to  be 
my  nickname? 

THE  STRANGER 

You  were  a  public  character.     Wherever  you  went, 

[IOI] 


The  Passing  of  the  Third  Floor  Back 

men  spoke  of  you — of  your  fine  lordly  ways,  of  your 
wondrous  kindness.     Women  also. 

Ivright 

Flinging  your  money  about  a  bit  when  you've  got 
plenty  of  it,  that  ain't  the  same  as  giving  up  the 
woman  you  love. 

THE  STRANGER 

Forgetting  Self — forgetting  all  things  but  the  loving 
of  her,  and  the  serving  of  her !  Ah  yes,  he  would  be 
a  great  gentleman  who  could  do  that.  You — you  do 
not  feel  yourself  quite  equal  to  it? 

WRIGHT 

[He  turns  a  poor,  troubled  face  towards  the 
stranger.]     Why  mightn't  she  come  to  love  me — in 

time?     I  would  be  good  to  her — and  kind — and 

[The  quiet  eyes  are  fixed  on  him.     The  foolish  words 
die  away.] 

the  stranger 

I  think  you  could  win  her  love  more  readily.  So 
that  she  would  think  of  you  to  the  end  always  with 
deep  wonder — teach  your  name  to  her  children  that 
they,  too,  might  learn  to  love  and  honour  it. 

[A  silence  reigns,  broken  only  by  the  scratching  of 

[102] 


The  Passing  of  the  Third  Floor  Back 

the  hooley  pen.    Then  the  door  opens,  and  the  major 
reappears.  ] 

MAJOR 

[Looking  round,  he  does  not  at  first  see  wright.] 
Is  he  gone?  [Coming  further  into  the  room,  he  dis- 
covers him.]  Ah !  there  you  are.  I'm  afraid  the  dear 
child  will  not  be  able 

WRIGHT 

[He  seems  to  have  suddenly  grown  older,  feebler. 
A  new  note  of  gentleness,  of  humbleness,  has  changed 
his  voice.  He  puts  the  other  aside  with  a  quiet  ges- 
ture.] Tell  her  it  doesn't  matter.  Tell  her  not  to — 
trouble.     [He  rises  and  goes  slowly  towards  the  door.] 

[mrs.  de  hooley,  having  finished  her  letters,  has 
risen.  Christopher  looks  up  from  his  work,  the 
stranger  stands  near  the  littered  table.] 

WRIGHT 

[He  turns.]  Pity  to  waste  the  ticket.  [He  draws 
the  theatre  voucher  from  his  waistcoat  pocket — looks 
from  one  to  other.]     Would  anybody  care  for  it? 

[jape  samuels  has  entered  with  papers  of  a  pro- 
spectus order  in  his  hand.] 

[103] 


The  Passing  of  the  Third  Floor  Back 

[To  the  major.]  Would  you?  Do  you  think  Mrs. 
Tompkins  might  like  to  go  ? 

MAJOR 

Well — [he  looks  at  his  watch] — well,  yes,  it's  veiy 
kind  of  you.     Perhaps  she  might. 

WRIGHT 

[As  he  gives  it  to  him.]  It's  a  nice  little  box — for 
two. 

MAJOR 

Very  kind  of  you — very  kind  of  you  indeed. 

WRIGHT 

That's  all  right. 

[He  turns  again,  and  the  little  bent  old  figure  passes 
slowly  out.  mrs.  de  hooley,  taking  her  work-basket 
from  the  table,  seats  herself  by  the  fire,  samuels  re- 
mains standing.] 

MAJOR 

Umph !  Seems  a  bit  down  in  the  mouth,  our  poor 
friend. 

SAMUELS 

[With  a  laugh.]     Not  the  evening  he  exthpected. 

[  104] 


The  Passing  of  the  Third  Floor  Back 

MAJOR 

Ah,  we  lovers  of  women ! — how  we  suffer ! 
[samuels  laughs.] 

MAJOR 

[To  the  stranger.]  Not  a  married  man  yourself, 
sir? 

the  stranger 

I  have  not  that  happiness. 

MAJOR 

Ah !  I  sympathise  with  you,  sir.  I  sympathise. 
[He  is  exchanging  grimances  with  jape,  wonderfully 
pleased  with  his  own  clowning.]  Been  married 
myself  four-and-twenty  years.  Regretted  it — only 
once. 

[samuels  laughs  again.] 

MAJOR 

What  are  you  laughing  at?  It's  quite  right — 
once,  and  once  only. 

[samuels  becomes  convidsed.] 

MAJOR 

[To  the  stranger.]  These  modern  young  men, 
they  ridicule  all  sentiment.     They  laugh  at    us — call 

[105] 


The  Passing  of  the  Third  Floor  Back 

us  "  Darby  and  Joan  " ;  can't  understand  a  man  being 
in  love  with  his  own  wife. 

THE  STRANGER 

They  have  many  things  to  learn. 

MAJOR 

Exactly  what  I  tell  them.  Star  of  my  life,  I  call 
her,  sir — always  there,  shining  down  upon  me,  beam- 
ing, twinkling 

[jape  is  guff  diving,  mrs.  de  hooley  smiling,  Chris- 
topher watching.  ] 

THE  STRANGER 

[He  interrupts,  with  a  gesture.]  I  remember  her 
well — as  a  girl. 

MAJOR 

[He  suddenly  drops  his  clowning.]    You ! — Re 

Who  are  you? 

THE  STRANGER 

A  friend  you  have  forgotten. 

[jape  seats  himself;  busies  himself  with  his  papers. 
mrs.  de  hooley  and  Christopher  take  up  their  work 
again.  ] 

[106] 


The  Passing  of  the  Third  Floor  Back 

MAJOR 

I  beg  your  pardon.  My  memory  for  faces,  I  am 
sorry  to  say 

THE  STRANGER 

It  was  a  long  while  ago. 

MAJOR 

It  is  very  good  of  you  to  find  excuse.  [He  is 
puzzled.  He  keeps  eyeing  the  stranger  from  under 
his  brows.  He  is  trying  to  recollect,  but  failing.] 
It  will  all  come  back  to  me,  I  have  no  doubt.  Mean- 
while, I  thank  you,  sir,  for  recalling  yourself.  Mrs. 
Tompkins  will  also,  I  am  sure,  be  pleased  that  you 
have  done  her  the  honour  to  remember  her. 

the  stranger 

To  have  forgotten  her  would  have  been  still  more 
difficult,  would  it  not?     [He  is  smiling.] 

MAJOR 

It  is  kind  of  you,  sir,  to  say  so. 

THE  STRANGER 

The  evening  we  first  met  her !  [The  major  glances 
swiftly.]  By  the  stepping-stones!  It  was  hawthorn- 
time,  you  remember?  Could  any  vision  have  been 
sweeter? 

[107I 


The  Passing  of  the  Third  Floor  Back 

MAJOR 

[After  a  short  silence,  very  drily.]  Yes,  yes,  she 
was  a  dainty  little  piece  of  goods  [he  turns  away] — 
in  those  days. 

THE  STRANGER 

It  is  rather  wonderful — you  will  not  be  jealous  of 
an  old  admirer — how  lightly  time  has  dealt  with  her. 

MAJOR 

Yes,  she  has  kept  her  good  looks — to  a  great  extent. 
Of  course,  her  figure 

THE  STRANGER 

[He  interrupts  again,  smiling.]  A  little  fuller.  A 
fault  in  the  right  direction,  is  it  not? 

MAJOR 

Yes,  yes,  I  suppose  it  is.  Never  could  myself  abide 
a  scraggy  woman. 

THE  STRANGER 

You  also — if  you  will  allow  me — have  worn  well, 
sir. 

MAJOR 

[He  turns  quickly.]     You  think  so. 

THE  STRANGER 

The  years  will  take  their  toll.     But  I  find  still  the 

[108] 


The  Passing  of  the  Third  Floor  Back 

same  quick,  youthful  step,  the  same — how  may  I  say 
it? — the  same  gallant  jauntiness. 

MAJOR 

[Laughing,  delighted.]  Still  the  soldier,  eh?  Still 
the  soldier ! 

THE  STRANGER 

I  think  it  was  that  gave  you  an  unfair  advantage. 
The  women !  they  succumb  so  easily  to  a  uniform. 

MAJOR 

[Swaggering,  laughing.]  Well,  yes.  There  is 
something  about  us  that  seems  to  appeal  to  them — eh  ? 

THE  STRANGER 

The  soldier's  reputation — for  chivalry,  for  tender- 
ness, no  doubt. 

MAJOR 

[The  conceit  falls  from  him.  He  glances  suspi- 
ciously at  the  stranger  ;  fidgets,  turns  away.  ]  Very 
possibly. 

the  stranger 

A  few  of  the  older  folks  shook  their  heads.  But 
some  of  the  younger  women,  I  remember,  frankly 
confessed  that  they  envied  her. 

[109] 


The  Passing  of  the  Third  Floor  Back 

MAJOR 

Um!    Ah,  yes!     [He  laughs,  awkwardly.] 

[The  door  opens,  mrs.  tompkins  enters,  an  open 
letter  in  her  hand.  She  has  come  downstairs,  as  she 
herself  woidd  express  it,  to  "have  it  out."  She 
thrusts  the  letter  forward.] 

MRS.  TOMPKINS 

So!    So,  my  dressmaker,  in  future 


MAJOR 

Ah !  my  dear,  you  are  just  in  time.  [She  is  about 
to  speak.  His  look,  the  tones  of  his  voice,  his  vehe- 
ment whisper,  as  he  waves  the  letter  aside,  silence 
her.]  Another  time — another  time  I  tell  you.  [Then 
aloud.]  I  want  to  introduce  you  to  an  old  friend  of 
ours.  [He  indicates  the  stranger.]  A  friend  who 
remembers  us,  I  am  ashamed  to  say,  better  than  we 
seem  to  have  remembered  him ;  a  friend  who  knew  us 
long  ago — in  our  courting  days. 

MRS.  TOMPKINS 

[Bewildered  at  the  major's  manner,  she  looks  at 
the  stranger  long  and  hard.  The  dawn  of  some 
strange  recollection  comes  to  her.  She  turns  a  puz- 
zled,  questioning  face   to   her  husband;   then  looks 

[no.l 


The  Passing  of  the  Third  Floor  Back 

again  at  the  stranger,  then  back  to  her  husband.] 
Yes.  It  was  long  ago — when  I  was  a  girl — in  Devon- 
shire. [Her  eyes  are  still  fixed  on  the  strangkr. 
The  recollection  grows.]  We  used  to  have  long  talks 
together.     I  remember. 

the  stranger 

Your  lover — if  I  may  take  him  at  his  word  [he 
turns  to  the  major;  smiling,  lays  his  hand  on  his 
shoulder] — has  been  telling  me  how  happily  your  mar- 
riage has  turned  out.  [the  stranger  stands  between 
them,  smiling.  She  turns  her  eyes  upon  her  husband. 
He  seeks  to  cover  his  confusion  with  a  jerky  laugh. 
Tries  to  find  something  to  say;  can  think  of  nothing.] 
May  I — a  little  late — offer  my  congratulations?  In 
the  world's  book,  so  full  of  the  vulgar  stories  of  dead 
love,  it  is  pleasant  to  come  across  one  with  the  old- 
fashioned  ending. 

[mrs.  tompkins  remains  silent.  The  major  is 
much  relieved.] 

MAJOR 

"The  old-fashioned  ending."  [Laughs.]  Very 
good — very   good    indeed.     They    married    and   lived 

happy [The  theatre  voucher  is  still  in  his  hand. 

[in] 


The  Passing  of  the  Third  Floor  Back 

//  catches  his  eye.]  Ah!  I  was  forgetting.  Mr. 
Wright  has  been  kind  enough  to  suggest,  my  dear, 
that  you  and  I  should  make  use  of  his  box  for  to- 
night.    What  do  you  think? 

[The  door  is  open.  mrs.  sharpe  has  entered.  She 
stands  watching.] 

MRS.  TOMPKINS 

[She  is  bewildered — not  quite  sure  whether  she  is 
atvake  or  dreaming.]  Yes,  yes;  I'd  be  rather  glad  to 
— to  get  out.  I — I  shall  only  be  a  minute.  I  have 
only  my  cloak  to  put  on.     [She  turns  to  go.] 

MAJOR 

[The  idea  occurs  to  him,  Heaven  knows  since  how 
long.  It  fits  awkwardly  on  him.]  Can — can  I  get  it 
for  you,  my  dear  ? 

[samuels  gives  vent  to  a  low  laugh.] 

MAJOR 

[Turns  on  him  fiercely,  having  perhaps  expected 
something  of  the  kind.]  I  beg  pardon,  sir.  I  failed 
to  catch  your  remark. 

SAMUELS 

[Bewildered,  frightened.]     I  never  thaid  anything. 

[112] 


The  Passing  of  the  Third  Floor  Back 

MAJOR 

My  mistake,  sir.     [He  turns  again  to  his  wife.] 
Can  I — find  it,  do  you  think,  my  dear  ? 

MRS.  TOMPKINS 

[She  has  been  staring.  On  her  also  forgotten  ways 
fit  ill]     I  think  I  left  it  upstairs.     Thank  you,  John. 

[The  major  goes  on  his  errand.] 

[The  astonished  jape  rises,  and,  whistling,  crosses 
to  the  desk,  where,  having  lit  another  cigar,  he  sits 
and  works,  mrs.  sharpe  goes  to  the  little  work-table, 
where  she  pretends  to  look  for  some  work,  but  her 
eyes  are  on  the  centre  of  the  room.  Christopher  and 
MRS.  de  hooley  cast  glances.] 

MRS.  TOMPKINS 

So  it  has  turned  out  happily — he  told  you  that. 

THE  STRANGER 

That  they  call  you  "  Darby  and  Joan."  [She  looks 
at  him.]  Nothing,  it  seems  to  me,  is  more  beautiful 
than  the  love  that  has  weathered  the  storms  of  life. 
The  blossom  that  flowers  in  the  heart  of  the  young,  as 
in  those  days  when  first  you  met  him,  so  handsome,  so 
kind,  you  remember? — that  too,  is  beautiful,  the  love 
of  the  young  for  the  young.     It  is  the  beginning  of 

[»3l 


The  Passing  of  the  Third  Floor  Back 

life.     But  the  love  of  the — forgive  me — of  the  old 
for  the  old,  that  is  the  beginning  of  things  longer. 

MRS.  TOMPKINS 

Yes,  I  remember  your  voice:  it  was  always  the 
same.  [She  turns  and  looks  at  him.]  But  it  is  you 
only  I  seem  to  remember — nothing  about  you — no 
time,  no  place.    I  suppose  it  will  come  back  to  me. 

THE  STRANGER 

And  if  not,  we  will  not  trouble.  The  meeting-place 
of  friends  is  in  the  heart. 

MRS.  TOMPKINS 

[She  looks  at  him,  smiling.]  You  always  thought 
well  of  me.     I  remember  that. 

THE  STRANGER 

I  knew  you — so  well. 

[The  major  re-enters  with  the  cloak.  He  has 
donned  an  Inverness  cape  and  carries  his  hat  and 
gloves.] 

MAJOR 

[He  places  the  cloak  around  her.]  We  shall  just 
be  in  time.  [To  the  stranger.]  I  shall  see  you 
again,  sir.     We  must  talk  about  old  days. 

[»4] 


The  Passing  of  the  Third  Floor  Back 

THE  STRANGER 

[Smiling.]     And  grow  young. 
[The  major  laughs.] 

MRS.  TOMPKINS 

[To  the  stranger,  as  nervously  and  doubtfully  she 
takes  the  major's  arm.]     Good-night. 

THE  STRANGER 

Good-night. 

MRS.  TOMPKINS 

[At  door.]  Oh,  I  wonder — shall  I  want  my  smell- 
ing-salts ? 

MAJOR 

My  dear,  [patting  his  pocket]  I  thought  of  it. 
[She  smiles  at  him.     They  go   out.     The   major 
closes  the  door  behind  them.] 

SAMUELS 

[So  soon  as  the  door  is  closed,  he  turns  round  in  his 
chair  and  bursts  into  a  laugh.]  Well,  if  that  don't— 
[laughs  again]— if  that  don't  take 

MRS.  SHARPE 

[With  some  work  in  her  hand  she  has  crossed  over. 
To  jape,  interrupting  him.]  Can  you  see  to  work 
Vere  ?    Shall  I  get  you  some  candles  ? 

f"5] 


The  Passing  of  the  Third  Floor  Back 

SAMUELS 

[He  accepts  the  interruption.]  Veil,  yeth.  One 
ith  a  bit  in  oneth  own  light.  Thankth.  [Speaking 
low]  I  thay 

MRS.  SHARPE 

[Cuts  him  short.]  I  will  get  them  for  you.  [She 
goes  out.] 

SAMUELS 

[Seeing  there  is  no  one  to  join  in  his  laughter,  he 
shrugs  his  shoulders  and  turns  his  face  to  the  desk.] 
Ageth  of  miraclthes  begun  again. 

[the  stranger  is  standing  with  his  hands  stretched 
out  towards  the  fire.] 

MRS.  DE  HOOLEY 

It  is  curious  your  having  known  the  Major  and 
Mrs.  Tompkins.  Because  I  can't  help  fancying  that 
we  also  are  friends. 

THE  STRANGER 

I  wonder! 

MRS.  DE  HOOLEY 

Each  time  I  hear  your  voice  it  comes  home  to  me 
more  and  more  that  we  have  met  somewhere. 

[ii6] 


The  Passing  of  the  Third  Floor  Back 

THE  STRANGER 

[He  looks  at  her.]     Yes,  you  are  right. 

MRS.  DE  HOOLEY 

I  was  sure  of  it.  Do  you  know  where  I  think  it 
was?    At  the  Tatton-Jones's? 

THE  STRANGER 

It  was  not  at  the  Tatton-Jones's. 

MRS.   DE  HOOLEY 

You  are  sure?  The  Yorkshire  branch?  Her 
grandfather  was  Groom  of  the  Bedchamber  to  Wil- 
liam the  Fourth. 

THE  STRANGER 

Quite  sure. 

MRS.  DE  HOOLEY 

[Tries  again.]  My  cousin,  Sir  George  Tweedle, 
Bart.,  has  scarcely  any  one  on  his  visiting-list  who  has 
not  a  title.     So  it  could  hardly  have  been  there? 

THE  STRANGER 

Hardly. 

MRS.  DE  HOOLEY 

I  wonder,  could  it  have  been  at  the  Eghams's — the 
Hampshire  Eghams's?  He  married  a  niece  of  Lord 
Bath. 

["7] 


The  Passing  of  the  Third  Floor  Back 

THE  STRANGER 

It  was  not  at  the  Eghams's. 

MRS.  DE  HOOLEY 

[She  is  sure  that  this  time  she  has  it  right.  She 
smiles  with  confidence.]  At  Drayton  Towers — Lady 
Mitcham's  place. 

THE  STRANGER 

Nor  at  Drayton  Towers. 

MRS.   DE  HOOLEY 

It  is  curious — very  curious.    I  feel  so  confident 

THE  STRANGER 

It  was  before  you  came  down  in  the  world. 

MRS.   DE  HOOLEY 

[She  stares  at  him,  but  the  grave,  quiet  eyes  tell 

nothing.]     Before   I   came  down [The   rest  is 

speechlessness.  ] 

THE  STRANGER 

In  the  days  when  you  were  a  great  lady. 

MRS.   DE  HOOLEY 

I — I  don't  understand. 

THE  STRANGER 

Each  evening,  after  the  long  day's  labour  in  the 

[118] 


The  Passing  of  the  Third  Floor  Back 

factory,  your  work-worn  hands  so  tired,  you  climbed 
the  many  creaking  stairs  to  bring  help  and  comfort  to 
one  all  others  had  forsaken. 

[A  silence.] 

MRS.   DE  II00LEY 

[She  has  risen.  She  looks  round  fearfully.]  It — 
it  didn't  matter  in  those  days.    I — I  was  nobody. 

THE  STRANGER 

You  held  high  rank  with  noble  men  and  women, 
then. 

MRS.   DE  HOOLEY 

I — I  know  what  you  mean,  of  course.  But  you — 
you  don't  understand.     When  one  is — is  called  upon 

to  enter  Society [She  looks  at  him;  there  is 

something  in  his  eyes  that  stays  her.] 

THE  STRANGER 

One  leaves  one's  womanhood  behind? 

MRS.   DE  HOOLEY 

[After  a  moment's  silence.]  One — one  isn't  ex- 
pected to  drag  after  one  a  sister  who — who  brought 
disgrace  upon  herself. 

THE  STRANGER 

Your  cloak  shall  hide  her  wounds. 

[119] 


The  Passing  of  the  Third  Floor  Back 

MRS.   DE  HOOLEY 

[The  poor  worried  lady  is  beginning  to  cry.]  I — I 
did  quite  a  good  deal  for  her.  I  did  my  Duty — [she 
draws  herself  up]  till  it  became  impossible! 

THE  STRANGER 

Ah  yes !  Duty  so  soon  tires.  [She  is  still  crying, 
her  eyes  downcast.  His  hand  rests  on  hers  a  moment.  ] 
Love  goes  all  the  way.     [She  looks  up.] 

[The  door  opens,  mrs.  sharpe  enters,  bearing  a 
lighted  candle  in  each  hand.  She  pauses  a  moment, 
looks  from  the  stranger  to  mrs.  de  hooley,  then 
passes  on,  places  the  candles  on  the  desk.] 

MRS.  DE  HOOLEY 

[She  gathers  her  work.  The  tears  have  gone;  the 
face  is  smiling.]  So  you  thought  me  a  great  lady,  in 
those  days? 

THE  STRANGER 

A  great  lady.  It  is  the  Helpless  and  the  Fallen  that 
hold  in  their  hands  the  patents  of  nobility. 

[She  goes  towards  the  door,  turns,  smiles  back  at 
him,  then  passes  out.] 

SAMUELS 

[Without  looking  up.]     Want  to  have  a  talk  with 

[120] 


The  Passing  of  the  Third  Floor  Back 

you,  my  lady,  about  my  little  bill.     [Turning  on  her.] 
What  do  you  mean  by 

MRS.  SHARPE 

[Staying  him  by  a  pleading  gesture.]  I  am  sorry. 
For  one  or  two  items,  I  know,  I  have  overcharged  you. 
I  will  make  you  out  a  new  one.     [She  moves  away.] 

SAMUELS 

[Looks  after  her — shakes  his  head.]  Thomething 
very  wrong  going  on  here.  [He  turns  once  more  to 
his  labour.]     Hope  it  ain't  anything  catching. 

MRS.  SHARPE 

[She  goes  to  the  table,  her  idea  being  to  fold  and 
rearrange  the  journals.  But  the  second  or  third  she 
takes  up  has  upon  its  margin  the  sketches  Christo- 
pher has  been  making.  She  pauses  with  it  in  her 
hand.  ]     You  have  been  drawing  our  portraits. 

CHRISTOPHER 

[He  is  still  sketching,  his  head  bent  over  his  work. 
With  a  light  laugh.]     Yes;  just  amusing  myself. 

MRS.   SHARPE 

They  are  wonderful !     So  like !    And  yet 

CHRISTOPHER 

[The  tone  of  her  voice  strikes  him.      He  glances 

[121] 


The  Passing  of  the  Third  Floor  Back 

tip.]  Yet  what?  What  is  wrong  with  them?  [He 
stretches  out  his  hand  for  the  paper.  She  gives  it  to 
him:  the  wonder  comes  to  him  also.]  Did  /  draw 
these? 

MRS.  SHARPE 

Who  else? 

CHRISTOPHER 

But  what  is  the  meaning  of  it  ?  These  are  the  faces 
of  beautiful  men  and  women! 

THE  STRANGER 

[Unnoticed,  he  has  drawn  near.]  Are  not  all  men 
and  women  beautiful?    Was  the  model  amiss? 

CHRISTOPHER 

Ah !  I  must  have  been  thinking  of  him.  They  were 
his  very  words — my  master,  who  first  taught  me. 
"  Ugliness,"  he  would  always  say,  "  it  is  but  skin  deep. 
The  business  of  Art  is  to  reveal  the  beauty  underlying 
all  things."     Your  voice  reminds  me  of  him. 

[mrs.  sharpe  goes  out  unnoticed.] 

THE  STRANGER 

Then  I  have  been  of  service  to  you? 

CHRISTOPHER 

[The  enthusiasm  dies  out.]     I  am  not  so  sure  of 

[122] 


The  Passing  of  the  Third  Floor  Back 

that.     I   was  trying  to   forget  him.     [He   rises   and 
moves  away.]     He  expected  great  things  of  me. 

THE  STRANGER 

[He  has  remained,  his  hand  upon  the  drawings. 
He  raises  one,  looks  from  it  to  the  lad.]  He  was 
wrong  ? 

CHRISTOPHER 

Ah,  if  one  could  only  be  an  artist  without  being  a 
man!  [He  turns,  with  a  twitching  smile.]  You  see, 
sir,  we  young  men — we  want  to  live  as  well  as  work — 
[turning  away  again] — to  live!  to  love! 

THE  STRANGER 

And  Love  and  Art  may  not  be  comrades  ? 

CHRISTOPHER 

Art  doesn't  pay,  sir,  and  one's  Love  [with  a  short, 
bitter  laugh]  demands  to  be  kept,  at  least  in  comfort. 

THE  STRANGER 

"  Demands  "  ?    Love  gives,  not  asks. 

CHRISTOPHER 

[With  a  gesture.]     Ah,  that  Love! 

THE  STRANGER 

Is  there  another? 

[123] 


The  Passing  of  the  Third  Floor  Back 

CHRISTOPHER 

[He  turns  with  an  appealing  gesture.  ]  What  can  I 
do  ?    I  want  her.     Can  I  ask  her  to  share  poverty  ? 

THE  STRANGER 

You  would  ask  her  to  share  shame — the  reward  of 
the  traitor? 

CHRISTOPHER 

"Traitor"? 

THE  STRANGER 

To  your  Art ;  [he  lays  his  hand  again  upon  the 
drawing]  to  the  great  gift  that  has  been  entrusted  to 
you! 

CHRISTOPHER 

You  take  a  high  view  of  Art.  [It  is,  without  his 
meaning  it,  a  sneer.] 

THE  STRANGER 

[There  is  sternness  in  the  voice — the  look.]  Since 
when  have  you  taken  a  low  one? 

[A  silence.] 

CHRISTOPHER 

[He  turns.]  Thank  you,  sir.  It  is  a  great  gift. 
[Then  sadly.]     I  am  not  worthy  of  it. 

[124] 


The  Passing  of  the  Third  Floor  Back 

THE  STRANGER 

Worthy — who  knows? — to  suffer  for  it.  It  is  a 
great  privilege  to  be  deemed  worthy  to  suffer.  Art, 
also,  has  its  cross. 

CHRISTOPHER 

[Smiling.]  I  wish,  sir,  I  were  as  young  as  you 
seem  to  be.  /  had  such  thoughts — once.  [With  an- 
other laugh]  I  have  always  sought  to  put  them  away 
from  me  as  something  to  be  ashamed  of. 

THE  STRANGER 

It  is  the  thoughts  of  youth  that  shall  one  day  make 
the  world  young.  I  may  come  up,  some  time,  and  see 
your  pictures? 

CHRISTOPHER 

To-morrow,  sir.  It  will  be  so  kind  of  you.  To- 
night— I  am  making  a  fire.  [Smiling  at  the  stran- 
ger, he  goes  out.] 

SAMUELS 

[He  hears  the  click  of  the  closing  door.  He  looks 
round  shyly,    the  stranger's  back  is  towards  him.] 

SAMUELS 

[The  cunning  creeps  into  his  face.     He  sits  for  a 

[125] 


The  Passing  of  the  Third  Floor  Back 

few  moments  working  out  his  plan:  a  few  slight  move- 
ments of  the  hands,  a  little  scratching  and  smoothing 
of  the  evil  face.  Then  he  blows  out  the  two  candles, 
and,  with  his  papers  in  his  hand,  softly  rises  and 
comes  across,  the  stranger  turns;  and  for  a  mo- 
ment, in  face  of  those  strange  eyes,  jape's  brazenness 
deserts  him.  Then,  recovering  himself,  he  thrusts  his 
face  forward,  leering,  but  meaning  to  be  amiable.] 
Don't  want  to  make  your  fortune,  do  you  ? 

THE  STRANGER 

Do  not  all  men  ? 

SAMUELS 

Got  thomething  here  thath  going  to  make  mine. 
I'm  going  to  be  a  millionaire.  Got  a  thilver  mine 
here — [he  strikes  the  papers  with  his  hand] — worth — 
I'm  tho  exthited  about  it,  I  go  about  telling  everybody 
I  meet.     [Laughs.]     Of  courth  they  don't  believe  me. 

THE  STRANGER 

Why  should  they  not? 

SAMUELS 

Well,  it  ain't  thenth,  ith  it?  If  a  fellow  hath  got 
hold  of  a  good  thing,  he  keepeth  it  to  himthelf — 
doethn't  want  to  let  a  lot  of  other  people  into  it. 

[126] 


The  Passing  of  the  Third  Floor  Back 

THE  STRANGER 

It  depends  upon  the  "  fellow."  There  are  generous 
fellows  who  love  to  share  their  good  fortune  with 
their  friends. 

SAMUELS 

[He  looks  at  the  stranger;  grows  bolder.]  Jutht 
exthactly  what  I  thay.  Why  not  thare  with  your 
palth?  Ethpethally  when — ath  in  thith  cath — thereth 
enough  for  all.  [All  the  time  he  is  eyeing  the 
stranger,  advancing  from  point  to  point.]  Would 
you  like  a  thmall  parthel?  [He  opens  his  papers, 
pushes  them  across  the  table  towards  the  stranger.] 
You'd  do  good  with  the  money.    I  can  thee  that.    For 

a  mere  couple  of  hundred Here,  don't  lithen  to 

me.     Look  at  the  figurth  for  yourthelf.     They'll  thow 
you.     [He  seats  himself  the  other  side  of  the  table.] 

THE  STRANGER 

[With  a  gentle  movement  he  pushes  them  back 
across  the  table.]     You  are — is  it  not  so? — a  Jew? 

SAMUELS 

[He  starts  back  as  though  struck.  With  snarling 
anger.]  Veil,  what  if  I  am?  You  can't  help  what 
you  wath  born.     Ath  a  matter  of  fact,  I  ain't  a  Jew— ■ 

[127] 


The  Passing  of  the  Third  Floor  Back 

not  now.     And  if  I  wath,  what  differenth  would  that 
make? 

THE  STRANGER 

Your  word  would  be  sufficient. 
[samuels  stares.] 

THE   STRANGER 

The  word  of  a  Jew. 
[A  silence.] 

SAMUELS 

What  makth  you  thay  that? 

THE  STRANGER 

So  many  of  the  noblest  men  I  have  known,  men  I 
have  loved,  [a  far-away  thought  is  in  his  eyes]  have 
been  Jews.  It  is  a  great  race — a  race  rich  in  honour- 
able names. 

SAMUELS 

[He  is  hard  at  work  thinking.]  Yet  to  hear  the  way 
they  talk  and  thneer,  you'd  think  there  wath  thome- 
thing  dithgrathful  in  even  having  been  born  a  Jew. 

THE   STRANGER 

The  Jew  shall  teach  them  their  mistake. 

[128] 


The  Passing  of  the  Third  Floor  Back 

SAMUELS 

[He  glances  up — fidgets  in  his  chair.]  Of  courthe, 
I  don't  thay  that  thome  among  uth  mayn't  be  a  bit 
tricky. 

THE  STRANGER 

There  are  to  be  found  everywhere  those  not 
ashamed  to  bring  dishonour  on  their  people. 

SAMUELS 

[He  rises.]  Jutht  exthactly  what  I  thay.  Thereth 
good  and  bad  everywhere.  We're  no  worthe  than 
anybody  elthe.  We  can  hold  our  own — I  don't  thay 
ath  we  can't.  If  it'th  a  game  of  who'th  going  to 
betht  whom — very  well,  we're  in  it.  If  a  thentleman 
cometh  to  uth,  treath  uth  ath  a  thentleman 

THE  STRANGER 

He  will  find  that  the  Jew  can  also  be  a  gentleman. 
[A  moment — he  touches  lightly  the  papers.]  You 
were  going  to  be  so  kind 

SAMUELS 

[He  stares  at  the  stranger,  then  at  his  wonderful 

papers,  then  again  at  the  stranger.]    Yeth,  I  did 

What  do  you  think  about  it — yourthelf  ? 

[129] 


The  Passing  of  the  Third  Floor  Back 

THE  STRANGER 

That  your  offer  is  most  generous — that  I  accept  it, 
with  all  thanks. 

SAMUELS 

[He  is  still  staring  at  the  stranger.]  Don't  you 
think — you'll  forgive  my  thaying  it,  but  you  don't 
thtrike  me  exthactly  ath  a  buthineth  man — don't  you 
think  it  would  be  better  to  leave  it  over  for  a  day  or 
two? — conthult  a  friend? 

THE  STRANGER 

What  friend  better  than  yourself? 

SAMUELS 

[Slowly  he  draws  back  the  papers.]  Got  mythelf 
to  think  of.  Wath  forgetting  that.  You  thee,  if  you 
wath  to  take  my  word  and  anything  by  any  chanthe 
wath  to  go  wrong,  /  thould  feel — [Laughs,  then 
gravely]  well,  I  thould  feel  ath  though  I'd  been  thell- 
ing  the  whole  Jewith  rathe  for  a  couple  of  hundred 
poundth  or  tho.  'Tain't  worth  it.  [He  moves  to- 
wards the  door — turns.]  Thorry.  Thomething  elthe, 
perhapth — thome  other  time. 

[He  goes  out,  closing  the  door.] 

[the  stranger  remains  standing  by  the  table.     The 

[130] 


The  Passing;  of  the  Third  Floor  Back 


'S 


folding  doors  open,  stasia  enters.  A  yet  further 
improvement  has  taken  place  in  her.  She  has  been 
"  titivating "  herself.  She  wears  larkcom's  gaudy 
green  glass  earrings.] 

STASIA 

[She  crosses  behind  the  table.  Her  eyes  are  drawn 
towards  the  stranger.]  Only  looked  in  to  see  if  the 
fire  was  all  right.  Nothing  I  can  do  for  you,  before  I 
go  to  bed? 

THE   STRANGER 

You  are  gaily  adorned. 

STASIA 

[Puzzled  at  first,  then  understanding.]  What,  these? 
[with  a  movement  of  her  hands  to  the  great  earrings]. 
They  ain't  mine — not  exactly — not  yet.  Just  put 
them  on  to  see  'ow  they  suited  me. 

THE   STRANGER 

They  are  not  good  enough  for  you. 

STASIA 

Of  course  they  are  not  real.  I  know  that.  But 
they're  rather  effective,  don't  you  think?  [She  looks 
up  at  him  with  her  serious,  childish  eyes.] 

[131] 


The  Passing  of  the  Third  Floor  Back 

THE  STRANGER 

They  do  not  become  you.     They  are  not  pure. 

STASIA 

What  can  I  expect?    You  see,  I'm  only  a  slavey. 

THE  STRANGER 

Your  people — who  are  they  ? 

STASIA 

My  people!  Do  you  mean  relations — father, 
mother,  all  that  sort  o'  thing? 

THE  STRANGER 

Who  are  they? 

STASIA 

[Shakes  her  head.]  I  dunno.  My  mother  died  in 
the  'orspital,  so  they've  always  told  me.  Never  'eard 
anything  about  my  father. 

THE  STRANGER 

[He  lays  his  hand  upon  her  shoulder.]  He  was  a 
friend  of  mine. 

STASIA 

[Her  great  eyes  open  wide.  ]  My  father ! — a  friend 
of [Her  voice  dies  away  in  the  wonder.] 


THE  STRANGER 

A  dear  friend 


fi32] 


The  Passing  of  the  Third  Floor  Back 

STASIA 

Then — then  was  he  a  gentleman  ? 

THE  STRANGER 

[He  remains  silent  a  moment  before  speaking.]  A 
great  gentleman. 

STASIA 

[The  marvel  grozving.]     Then  am  I — a  lidy? 

THE  STRANGER 

His  daughter.  And  so  like  him.  [He  puts  his 
hands  upon  her  shoulders,  smiling  at  her.]  His  kind, 
brave  eyes 

STASIA 

[She  is  looking  up  at  him,  smiling.] 

THE  STRANGER 

His  ever-ready  smile — his  voice ! 

STASIA 

[As  in  a  dream.]     And  he  was — a  gentleman? 

THE  STRANGER 

A  gallant  gentleman.  [He  turns  away  a  moment.] 
May  his  sins  be  forgot ! 

STASIA 

And  I [  Then  from  her  dream  she  wakes.  ] 

[133] 


The  Passing  of  the  Third  Floor  Back 

You're  making  gime  of  me.  [The  tears  are  in  her 
voice.]  'Ow  can  I  be  any  one?  I  was  born  in  a 
workhouse. 

THE  STRANGER 

[Again  a  moment's  silence.]  A  King,  once,  was 
born  in  a  stable. 

STASIA 

Yus.  Sort  o'  King  like  I'm  a  lidy — that  nobody 
knows. 

THE  STRANGER 

They  learnt  it  later. 

STASIA 

[She  looks  up — meets  his  eyes.]  You're  talking 
sense :  you  mean  a  real  King — with  a  crown. 

THE  STRANGER 

Yes;  He  wore  a  crown.  So,  you  see,  Stasia,  the 
place  doesn't  matter.  There  must  be  poor  kings  the 
world,  for  a  time,  does  not  know.  So  there  must 
likewise  be  poor  gentlewomen,  daughters  of  poor  gen- 
tlemen. 

STASIA 

[She  looks  at  him  and  the  doubts  fall  away.]  Yes, 
he  must  have  been  a  gentleman  if  he  was  your  friend. 

[i34l 


The  Passing  of  the  Third  Floor  Back 

[She  smiles,  and  her  hands  creep  out  timidly  towards 
him.]  Would  you  mind — for  his  sake,  like?  I've 
often  thought  I'd  like  to  have  a  friend. 

THE  STRANGER 

[He  stands  waiting.     His  arms  are  open.] 

STASIA 

[She  comes  towards  him,  smiling.  Then  suddenly 
she  stops,  and  a  frightened,  hunted  look  comes  into 
her  eyes.  ]  No.  I  beg  your  pardon ;  I  was  forgetting. 
I'm  a  bad  'un. 

THE  STRANGER 

[But  he  still  stands,  waiting,  his  arms  open.] 

STASIA 

[She  shakes  her  head.]  You  don't  understand. 
I'm  a  bad  'un. 

THE  STRANGER 

Did  I  ask  you  ? 

STASIA 

You  mean  it  don't  matter?    You  can [Step 

by  step  she  has  reached  him.  ] 

THE  STRANGER 

[He  puts  his  arms  about  her.] 

[i35] 


The  Passing  of  the  Third  Floor  Back 

STASIA 

[She  looks  up  into  his  face,  her  childish  eyes  filled 
with  love.]     I  didn't  know. 

THE  STRANGER 

[He,  bending  over  her,  kisses  her;  then  gently  puts 
her  from  him.  ]     Good-night. 

STASIA 

[She  takes  from  her  ears  the  earrings.  Throws 
them  one  after  the  other  into  the  fire.  They  fall  with 
a  faint  crash.]  Good-night.  [Looking  back,  smiling, 
she  goes  out.] 

[The  dim  gas-jets  give  but  a  faint,  cold  light,  the 
stranger  sits  in  the  large  chair  that  is  near  to  the 
table.     The  fire-glow  shines  upon  his  face.] 

[After  a  while  the  door  opens,  and  vivian  enters, 
closing  it  behind  her.  She  has  changed  back  into  the 
plain  black  dress  she  wore  in  the  afternoon.  Her 
hair,  drawn  back  from  her  white  face,  she  has  allowed 
to  fall  loose.  She  moves  slowly  across  the  room, 
looking  at  the  stranger  without  speaking.  She 
kneels  the  other  side  of  the  fire,  her  arm  over  the  arm 
of  the  chair,  staring  into  the  fire.  After  a  while  she 
turns  her  face  and  looks  at  him.] 

[136] 


The  Passing  of  the  Third  Floor  Back 

VIVIAN 

Who  are  you  ?  Why  do  you  follow  me  ?  I  see  you 
in  the  streets;  you  look  at  me  out  of  crowds.  Why 
have  you  come  here?  What  is  it  that  you  want 
with  me  ? 

THE  STRANGER 

To  plead  with  you — will  you  listen? — for  one  who 
loves  you. 

VIVIAN 

You  are  his  friend.  It  is  he  who  has  brought  you 
here — to  plead  for  him.  Poor  boy!  [Then  harden- 
ing again.  ]  Well,  what  have  you  to  say  ?  What  pro- 
posals do  you  bring  from  him?  What  does  my  lover 
offer  me  ? 

THE  STRANGER 

Poverty — struggle;  hopes — fears;  pain — joy;  love 
—life. 

[A  silence.] 

VIVIAN 

[With  her  bitter  laugh.]  So  he  has  told  you  I  am 
that — that  sort  of  a  woman?  Hadn't  you  better  find 
out  the  truth  about  me  before  you  waste  your  words  ? 
Look  at  me  [she  draws  nearer]  with  those  eyes  that 

[i37] 


The  Passing  of  the  Third  Floor  Back 

seem  to   read  one  through  and  through.     Is  it  not 
written  plainly  enough,  the  thing  I  am  ? 

THE  STRANGER 

[He  looks  into  her  eyes.]  A  woman  fair  and  sweet, 
made  for  honour,  for  worship. 

VIVIAN 

[With  a  low  cry.]  Ah,  perhaps!  But  what  has 
she  made  of  herself?     What  else  do  you  read? 

THE  STRANGER 

It  is  not  written. 

VIVIAN 

[She  springs  up,  with  a  mocking  laugh.]  But  it 
soon  will  be.  Shall  I  tell  you  the  lover  of  my  choice? 
The  man  who  can  give  me  all  my  soul's  desire — money 
and  the  things  that  money  can  buy.  You  think  me  a 
woman.  I  am  only  a  luxury-loving  animal.  He  will 
give  me  Shame  to  live  with  me.  But  after  a  little 
while  I  shall  get  used  to  her.  She  will  be  clad  in  fine 
clothes,  and  I  shall  think  her  Honour.  Go  back  to 
him.  Tell  him  my  choice  is  made.  I  have  had  a 
better  offer.     I  marry  Shame. 

THE  STRANGER 

You  will  not  wed  with  Shame.    You  shall  not. 

[138] 


The  Passing  of  the  Third  Floor  Back 

VIVIAN 

[She  turns.]     "  Shall  not"?    Who  will  stay  me? 

THE  STRANGER 

[He  rises.]     Your  Better  Self. 

[A  silence.] 
There  are  they  whose  Better  Self  lies  slain — slain  by 
their  own  hand  to  trouble  them  no  more.  But  yours, 
child,  you  have  let  grow  too  strong.  It  will  ever  be 
your  master.  You  must  obey.  Flee  from  it,  it  will 
ever  follow  you.  You  cannot  escape  it.  Insult  it, 
and  it  will  chastise  you  with  burning  thoughts,  with 
stinging  self-reproach,  with  repentance  that  comes  too 
late.  It  is  your  master.  You  must  obey.  [The 
sternness  dies,  the  gentleness  returns.  He  lays  his 
hand  upon  her.]  You  will  marry  your  lover.  With 
him  you  will  walk  the  way  of  sunlight  and  of  shadow. 

VIVIAN 

Who  are  you  ?    I  know  your  voice.     I  hear  it  in  the 

wind.    I  hear  it  in  the  silence  of  the  night.    Who 

[She  is  standing,  her  face  illumined  by  the  firelight, 
looking  at  him.  His  face  is  not  seen.  There  comes  a 
strange  awe  into  her  eyes — into  her  voice.     With  a 

cry]  You  are [There  is  a  movement  as  though 

she  were  about  to  kneel.] 

[  i39] 


The  Passing  of  the  Third  Floor  Back 

[the  stranger  stretches  out  his  hands  and  stays 
her.] 

[The  stage  has  grown  dark.  There  is  a  long, 
strange  silence.] 

THE  STRANGER 

A  fellow-lodger.     Good-night. 

[She  stands  still  gazing  at  him  with  that  strange 
look  of  awe,  her  face  illumined  by  the  fire,  the 
stranger's  face  is  not  seen.] 

the  curtain  falls 


[140] 


CHARACTERS  IN  THE  EPILOGUE 

An  Old  Bachelor 

Two  Lovers 

A  Husband  and  Wife 

A  Jew 

An  Entertaining  Party 

A  Maiden  Lady 

A  Rich  Aunt 

An  Important  Person 

The  Lady  of  the  House 

A  Friend 


[141] 


EPILOGUE 

SCENE 

The  same,  and  yet  not  the  same.  The  tables  and 
chairs  are  as  before — the  worn  carpet,  the  three- 
branched  gaselier.  But  the  room  from  a  dingy 
boarding-house  parlour  has  become  a  pleasant, 
homelike  place.  A  little  furniture  polish,  a  little 
soap  and  water,  has  accomplished  zvonders.  Some 
one  with  a  sense  of  art  has  redraped  the  windows, 
changed  some  of  the  pictures  on  the  walls,  hunted 
out  some  bright  "Sheffield  plate  "  for  the  sideboard, 
redecorated  the  gaselier,  supplied  spring  flowers  in 
old  china  vases.  Not  so  much  money  as  loving  care 
has  been  spent.  Good  taste,  among  other  things, 
would  seem  to  have  entered  into  the  house  since  last 
we  saw  it. 

[It  is  again  a  foggy  Friday  afternoon,  and  again 
mrs.  sharpe  sits  at  the  desk,  making  out  her  bills — 

[143] 


The  Passing  of  the  Third  Floor  Baek 

a  pale,  thin  lady  who  during  the  interval  has  grown 
a  good  many  years  younger.  The  lines  of  fret  and 
anger  have  disappeared — a  gentle,  somewhat  shy  lady 
with  a  habit  of  smiling  to  herself.  She  is  dressed  in 
a  quiet,  dark  frock  with  lace  shawl.  It,  maybe,  is  a 
little  old-fashioned,  but  it  suits  her.  The  widow's  cap 
is  of  another  pattern — and  colour.  Her  spectacles  lie 
on  the  desk  near  to  her  hand,  stasia  enters,  carrying 
a  tray  laden  with  tea-things,  which  she  proceeds  to 
spread  over  a  dainty  tea-cloth.  The  china  and  the 
silver  make  a  bright  picture  very  different  to  the  un- 
tidy jumble  of  the  first  Act.  stasia  is  a  neatly  clad, 
fragile-looking  little  person,  her  dark  hair  in  soft  folds 
each  side  of  the  somewhat  pallid  face  with  its  large, 
wistful,  childish  eyes.  A  slight  fit  of  coughing  seizes 
her  after  she  has  laid  down  the  tray.  She  waits  a 
while  to  recover  her  breath,  mrs.  sharpe,  turning 
her  head,  looks  at  her.     stasia  smiles.] 

MRS.  SHARPE 

[Turning  again  to  her  work.]     You  don't  get  rid  of 
that  cough  of  yours. 

STASIA 

It's  only  these  fogs.    I'll  be  all  right  when  the  sun 
comes. 

[1441 


The  Passing  of  the  Third  Floor  Back 

MRS.  SIIARPE 

Shall  pack  you  off  to  the  seaside  for  a  month  if  you 
don't  get  rid  of  it  soon. 

STASIA 

[Looks  up  from  her  laying  of  the  table.]     Pack  me 

off!     For    a    mon !     [Laughs    contemptuously.] 

A  nice  muddle  I'd  find  everything  in  when  I  got  back. 

MRS.  SHARPE 

[Laughs.]  Don't  you  be  so  conceited — thinking 
nobody  can  get  on  without  you.  How  many  candles 
have  you  had  for  Mr.  Wright  this  week  ? 

STASIA 

Six. 

MRS.  SHARPE 

[Looks  up.]     Six?     I  thought  it  was  four. 

STASIA 

Let  me  see.  There's  the  pair  on  the  mantelpiece. 
Then  one — no,  you're  right.     'Twas  only  four. 

MRS.  SHARPE 

I  thought  I  only  recollected  four.     [Writes.] 

STASIA 

I  was  counting  in  the  two  left  over  from  last  week. 
[From  the  sideboard  drawer  she  has  taken  the  after- 

[145] 


The  Passing  of  the  Third  Floor  Back 

noon  apron  and  cap.     The  former  she  has  pat  on,  the 
cap  she  is  now  fixing.]     Haven't  got  a  pin,  have  you? 

MRS.  SHARPE 

[Examining  the  pin-cushion  of  her  chatelaine.]  I 
don't  think — yes,  I  have,  just  one. 

[stasia  has  come  over  and  kneels  down.  mrs. 
sharpe  is  "fixing"  the  cap.] 

You  needn't  wear  it,  if  you'd  rather  not.     It's  only  a 
custom. 

stasia 

Oh,  I  think  it  gives  tone  to  the  house.  I  don't  see 
anything  to  be  ashamed  of  in  it.  I  rather  think  it 
suits  me. 

MRS.  SHARPE 

[Looks  at  her.  Then,  smiling,  pats  her  cheek.  The 
girl  rises.]  Why  didn't  Miss  Kite  come  down  to 
lunch  ? 

STASIA 

Said  she  wasn't  feeling  hungry. 

MRS.  SHARPE 

Not  ill,  is  she  ? 

STASIA 

She's  fretting  herself. 

[146] 


The  Passing  of  the  Third  Floor  Back 

MRS.   SHARPE 

[After  a  pause.]  I  am  sorry  for  her.  She'd  be 
really  a  nice-looking  woman  if  it  wasn't  for 

STASIA 

Would  you  mind  my  talking  to  her? 

MRS.  SHARPE 

You! 

STASIA 

You  see,  if  anybody  else  was  to  say  anything  to  her 
it  might  hurt  her.  I'm  only  a  little  servant-girl  that 
she  needn't  even  listen  to,  if  she  don't  want  to. 

MRS.  SHARPE 

You  think  it  could  be  of  any  use? 

STASIA 

She  only  wants  a  little  courage  put  into  her. 

MRS.  SHARPE 

Very  well — try. 

STASIA 

I'll  make  the  tea,  and  then 

[The  door  opens.  Enter  jape  Samuels.  The  oili- 
ness,  the  aggressiveness,  have  disappeared.  The  cun- 
ning has  gone  out  of  the  face;  it  is  seen  to  be  rather  a 

[i47] 


The  Passing  of  the  Third  Floor  Back 

handsome  face  with  its  chiselled  nose,  its  high  fore' 
head.  The  moustache  has  been  shaved  off,  the  thick 
hair  brushed  back.] 

SAMUELS 

Good  afternoon !  [To  stasia.]  How'th  the  cough? 
[His  lisp  remains,  but  somehow  it  is  no  longer  objec- 
tionable.] 

STASIA 

[Indignant]  What  cough?  Everybody  talking 
about  me  as  if  I  was  some  bedridden  old  woman,  past 
her  work.     Haven't  got  a  cough ! 

[She  goes  out,  pulling  the  door  sharply.  The  gong 
is  heard  a  little  later.] 

MRS.  SHARPE 

I've  been  threatening  to  send  her  off  to  the  seaside. 
It  has  made  us  a  bit  short-tempered.  [Laughs.] 
You  are  home  early. 

SAMUELS 

Friday  is  always  a  short  day  in  the  City — for  us 
Jews.  [mrs.  sharpe  looks  at  him.]  Is  that  my  bill? 
[He  is  by  desk.     Takes  tip  one  of  the  bills.] 

MRS.   SHARPE 

[Glances  at  it.]     Yes. 

[148] 


The  Passing  of  the  Third  Floor  Back 

SAMUELS 

You've  made  a  mistake. 

MRS.   SHARPE 

Havel? 

SAMUELS 

Chop  on  Wednesday  you  haven't  charged  me  for. 
[Gives  it  her  back.] 

MRS.  SHARPE 

I  had  forgotten.  [Leaning  over  the  desk,  she  adds 
the  item.  ]     Will  you  be  leaving  us  ? 

SAMUELS 

Why  should  I? 

MRS.  SHARPE 

Well,  you've  referred  once  or  twice  of  late  to  the 
fact  of  your  being  a  Jew.     I  have  been  fearing 

SAMUELS 

It  isn't  what  he  eats  and  how  it's  cooked  that  makes 
the  Jew.  It  wasn't  the  manna,  it  was  the  Ten  Com- 
mandments that  led  us  out  of  bondage — welded  us 
into  a  people.  [His  voice  has  taken  a  fine  ring;  a  fine 
look  in  his  eyes.]  Will  the  "  salon  "  be  well  attended 
this  afternoon?  [Smiling.]  It  is  the  third  Friday,  is 
it  not  ? 

[149] 


The  Passing  of  the  Third  Floor  Back 

MRS.  SHARPE 

[Laughs.]  Yes.  Yes,  I  think  everybody  will  be 
here. 

SAMUELS 

It  was  a  delightful  idea. 

MRS.   SHARPE 

It  is  foolish  of  me,  perhaps.  But  it  brings  back  old 
times.  [With  another  nervous  little  laugh.]  I  like 
to  imagine — if  only  once  a  month — that  you  are  all 
my  guests. 

SAMUELS 

Your  guests  always.  [He  takes  from  her  hand  the 
receipted  bill.]  We  pay  you — little  enough — for  the 
accommodation  of  a  boarding-house.  [He  slips  the 
coins  into  her  hand.]  Your  thoughtfulness,  your 
kindness,  have  given  to  us  a  home.  Your  bill  still 
leaves  us  in  your  debt.  [She  gives  him  a  grateful 
smile.  ] 

[Opening  the  door,  he  finds  vivian  on  the  point  of 
entering.  He  draws  back,  holding  the  door  open  for 
her.  She  enters,  passing  him  with  a  smile  and  bow. 
They  exchange  a  "  Good  afternoon"  vivian  carries 
a  bouquet  of  early  hyacinths.] 

[150] 


The  Passing  of  the  Third  Floor  Back 

VIVIAN 

You  are  running  away  from  us  ? 

SAMUELS 

To  return  more  worthy  of  my  company.  [Smiles. 
He  goes  out.] 

VIVIAN 

I  am  the  first? 

MRS.  SHARPE 

And  therefore  the  most  welcome.  [Kisses  her.] 
How  is  your  mamma  ? 

VIVIAN 

She's  got  a  slight  headache.  She'll  be  down  in  a 
few  minutes.  [She  is  near  the  sideboard.]  Shall  I 
put  these  in  water? 

MRS.   SHARPE 

They  are  my  favourite  flowers. 

VIVIAN 

[She  fixes  the  flowers  in  a  bowl  with  water,  and 
brings  them  to  the  table.]  I  heard  you  say  so  on  Sun- 
day. She  worries  herself  about  papa.  The  more 
cheerful  he  is,  the  more  she  persists  in  regarding  it  as 
a  cloak  concealing  an  aching  heart.     [Laughs.]     As  a 

[151I 


The  Passing  of  the,  Third  Floor  Back 

matter  of  fact,  he  is  doing  remarkably  well,  and  is 
naturally  pleased  with  himself. 

MRS.   SHARPE 

I  suppose  she  dislikes  the  idea  of  his  having  become 
a  commercial  traveller.    I  can  understand  it. 

VIVIAN 

I  can't.  I've  just  been  having  it  out  with  her. 
Why  shouldn't  a  gentleman  do  useful  work  for  which 
he  has  special  qualifications? 

[The  door  opens,  the  major  puts  in  his  head.] 

MRS.   SHARPE 

[Laughing.]     We  are  talking  about  you. 

MAJOR 

[Entering,  hat  and  cane  in  hand.]     I  am  honoured. 

VIVIAN 

I  was  saying  how  fitted  you  were  to  be  a  commercial 
traveller. 

[major  winces.] 

VIVIAN 

[She  goes  up  to  him.  ]     You  are  not  the  poor  fellow 

that  gets  shown  the  door.     [She  is  touching  up  his 

hair.]     Nobody  dares  to  be  impertinent  to  so  fine  a 

gentleman. 

[152] 


The  Passing  of  the  Third  Floor  Back 

MAJOR 

[Laughing,  well  pleased.]     Well,  yes.     I   suppose 
manner  and  bearing  [draivs  himself  up]  do 

VIVIAN 

Why,  it's  taken  even  me  quite  a  long  time.     [Kisses 
him.] 


MAJOR 

[He  takes  her  hand  in  his.]     My  dear,  if 


[Enter  stasia  with  tea  and  a  plate  of  muffins,  which 
she  places.] 

MAJOR 

[Seeing  her,  breaks  off  and  turns  to  mrs.  sharpe.] 
It  was,  to  tell  you  the  truth,  Mrs.  Sharpe,  about  that 
little  bill  transaction  of  ours  that  I  looked  in. 

MRS.   SHARPE 

Oh,  don't  let  that  worry  you. 

MAJOR 

I  have  instructed  my  bankers  to  take  it  up — on 
Tuesday. 


MRS.   SHARPE 

It  is  very  kind  of  you.    You  are  sure 

[i53] 


The  Passing  of  the  Third  Floor  Baek 

MAJOR 

The  kindness,  dear  lady,  has  been  yours — through- 
out.    [He  goes  out.] 

[Outside  he  meets  mrs.  de  hooley.  They  are  un- 
seen, but  their  conversation  is  heard — or  rather  partly 
heard.] 

major 

Ah,  good  afternoon!  And  how  do  we  find  our- 
selves this  afternoon? 

MRS.  DE  HOOLEY 

Oh,  just  so-so.  Your  lumbago,  I  trust,  Major,  is 
better. 

MAJOR 

I  thank  you — a  little. 

MRS.  DE  HOOLEY 

So  glad. 

[The  major  goes  his  way  upstairs,  mrs.  de  hooley 
enters  the  room.] 

MRS.    SHARPE 

[Greeting  her.]     How  are  you,  dear? 

MRS.  DE  HOOLEY 

How  are  you,  dear? 

[154] 


The  Passing  of  the  Third  Floor  Back 

[They  kiss.] 
What  do  you  think  of  it  ?     [She  stands  and  turns  for 
them  to  inspect  her  new  dress.     It  is  a  simple  dress 
of  poor  material,  but  it  has  points.] 

MRS.  SHARPE 

[After  a  pause.]    I  think  she's  going  to  be  clever. 

MRS.  DE  HOOLEY 

It's  absolutely  her  first  attempt,  you  must  remem- 
ber.    [To  vivian]  How  do  you  like  it,  dear? 

VIVIAN 

[Joining  them.]     Is  that  the  frock  your  sister  has 
been  making  for  you  ? 

MRS.  DE  HOOLEY 

Yes.    Of  course,  she's  got  a  lot  to  learn. 

VIVIAN 

I  like  the  way  she's  cut  the  skirt. 

MRS.  SHARPE 

If  she  can  cut  a  skirt  well,  that's  everything. 

STASIA 

[Unnoticed,  has  approached.]     I  like  that  little  bow 
on  the  shoulder. 

[i55] 


The  Passing  of  the  Third  Floor  Back 

MRS.  DE  HOOLEY 

Do  you  know,  I  think  it  does  help. 

STASIA 

Looks  so  saucy. 

MRS.  SHARPE 

[Playfully  pushes  her  towards  door.]  Here,  you 
take  yourself  off.    And  don't  forget  those  muffins. 

[stasia  goes  out.] 

MRS.  SHARPE 

I  should  say  she  would  do  well. 

MRS.  DE  HOOLEY 

I've  taken  a  place  for  her  in  Judd  Street.  It's  a 
bigger  rent  than  I  intended,  but  then,  it's  so  handy  for 
the  'buses. 

MRS.  SHARPE 

She  must  be  very  grateful  to  you,  I'm  sure,  dear. 

MRS.  DE  HOOLEY 

Well,  you  see,  dear,  there's  the  children.  Four  of 
them,  and  really 

[There  enters  joey  wright  with  Christopher, 
wright  is  a  tubby,  kindly-looking  little  man,  with 
small  twinkling  eyes.     So  much  of  his  appearance  as 

[156] 


The  Passing  of  the  Third  Floor  Back 

a  man  himself  may  be  deemed  responsible  for  has 
been  altered  for  the  better.  Christopher  is  the  same, 
except  that  hope  and  enthusiasm  have  taken  hold  of 
the  boy.  They  enter  talking  and  laughing.  The 
women  break  up.  mrs.  sharpe  goes  to  the  tea-table. 
mrs.  de  hooley  and  vivian  remain  talking.] 

MRS.  sharpe 

[As  she  turns  away  from  them.]  We  shall  all  do 
what  we  can,  dear.  [She  crosses  and  greets  the  two 
new-comers.]     How  is  the  picture  getting  on? 

CHRISTOPHER 

We  were  just  discussing  a  point. 

WRIGHT 

What  do  you  think  he  wants  to  do?  Paint  me  as 
a  friar. 

CHRISTOPHER 

Don't  you  think  it  would  be  a  good  idea?  [Taking 
mrs.  sharpe's  lace  shawl  from  her  shoulders,  he 
drapes  it  as  a  cowl  round  Wright's  head.]  "  A  Friar 
of  Orders  Grey." 

MRS.  sharpe 

[Laughs.]  You  are  quite  right.  He  does  make 
an  excellent  monk. 

[157] 


The  Passing  of  the  Third  Floor  Back 

CHRISTOPHER 

[He  replaces  the  shawl  round  mrs.  sharpe's  shoul- 
ders. She  is  pouring  out  tea.]  We  will  try  it  to- 
morrow. I'll  have  the  dress  ready.  [To  mrs.  sharpe.] 
Can  I  help  ? 

MRS.  sharpe 

[She  hands  him  two  cups  of  tea.]  Yes.  You  can 
say  something  pleasant  to  Mrs.  de  Hooley  about  her 
frock. 

CHRISTOPHER 

What  an  extraordinary 

MRS.  SHARPE 

I  didn't  ask  you  to  criticise  it.  I  asked  you  to  say 
something  pleasant  about  it.  I'll  tell  you  why  after- 
wards. 

[Christopher  laughs.     He  crosses  with  the  cups.] 

[mrs.  de  hooley  and  vivian  are  near  the  piano, 
mrs.  de  hooley  sitting,  vivian  standing.  Christo- 
pher joins  them,  and  they  talk  together.  Occasion- 
ally a  jew  words  are  heard,  for  instance:] 

VIVIAN 

What  do  you  know  about  it?  [With  a  laugh.] 
[Christopher  having  been  expressing  views  con- 
cerning mrs.  de  hooley's  dress.] 
[158] 


The  Passing  of  the  Third  Floor  Back 


MRS.   DE   HOOLEY 

But,  my  dear,  an  artist 


WRIGHT 

I  want  you  to  do  me  a  favour.  As  soon  as  he's 
finished  with  me,  I  want  you  to  let  him  paint  you ! 

MRS.   SHARPE 

I  should  like  it  immensely,  but  I'm  afraid  I  can't 
afford 

WRIGHT 

Don't  be  silly.  You  don't  think  I  mean  you  to  pay 
for  it.  We'll  have  it  over  the  mantelpiece  in  the  din- 
ing-room. I'm  tired  of  looking  at  myself  in  a  mirror 
that  makes  me  out  twice  as  broad  as  I'm  long. 

MRS.   SHARPE 

[Understands,  and  she  smiles  at  him.]  What  a 
good  fellow  you  are!  [She  has  risen  to  greet  her 
new  guest.] 

[larkcom    has    entered,    a    cheery    young    blade, 
dressed  in  a  grey  frock  suit,  clean-shaven,  his  hair 
somezvhat  long  and  "artistically"  arranged.] 
How  did  the  concert  go  off? 

larkcom 

\ He    has    developed    a    theatrical    manner,    which 

[i59] 


.The  Passing  of  the  Third  Floor  Back 

rather  suits  him.  He  is  fond  of  the  centre  of  the 
stage  and  of  gestures.]  The  greatest  success  I  have 
ever  achieved. 

CHRISTOPHER 

A  good  house? 

LARKCOM 

[He  shrugs  his  shoulders.]  The  house — might  have 
been  better.  But  the  enthusiasm! — the  enthusiasm! 
That  new  song  of  mine!  I  could  have  been  singing 
it  now. 

[Between  the  others  an  amused  smile  passes.] 

MRS.    SHARPE 

[Who,  having  shaken  hands  with  larkcom,  has  re- 
turned to  her  duties.]  You  will  be  glad  of  a  cup  of 
tea. 

[samuels  has  entered — in  changed  dress.] 

SAMUELS 

Well,  how  did  it  go  off? 

LARKCOM 

My  boy 


[mrs.  sharpe  hands  him  his  cup  of  tea.] 

[160] 


The  Passing  of  the  Third  Floor  Back 

LARKCOM 

Thank  you.     There  was   one  man,   in  the   second 


row 


SAMUELS 

Only  one ! 

[The  others  laugh,  larkcom,  putting  down  his 
cup,  seises  a  knife,  jape,  laughing,  places  himself 
the  other  side  of  the  table.] 

MRS.   SHARPE 

[She  holds  out  to  larkcom  the  empty  hot-water 
jug.]  Hand  that  down  the  stairs  to  Stasia,  will  you? 
for  some  more  hot  water.  I  don't  want  to  give  her  the 
trouble  of  coming  up  twice. 

LARKCOM 

[Taking  the  jug.]  You  think  one  jug  will  be  suf- 
ficient among  so  many? 

MRS.   SHARPE 

[Laughs.]    Don't  you  be  impertinent. 
[larkcom  goes  out.] 

MRS.   SHARPE 

I'm  ashamed  to  say  I've  never  heard  him — except, 
of  course,  here  of  an  evening.     I  never  seem  to  get 

[161J 


The  Passing  of  the  Third  Floor  Back 

the  time.     [She  is  replenishing  cups  which  Christo- 
pher has  brought  over.] 

WRIGHT 

Oh !  he's  good. 

SAMUELS 

Not  as  clever  as  he  thinks  himself.  [With  a  laugh] 
I  suppose  one  could  say  that  of  all  of  us.  But  he's 
worth  hearing. 

MRS.   SHARPE 

I  must  really  try. 

[The  major  and  mrs.  tompkins  have  entered. 
mrs.  sharpe  rises  and  greets  them.] 

Sorry  to  hear,  dear,  that  you've  got  a  headache. 

MRS.  TOMPKINS 

Oh !  it's  all  right  now.  I  think  it  must  be  his  com- 
ing home  that  has  taken  it  away.  [With  a  laugh] 
They  say  one  trouble  will  always  drive  out  another. 
[She  gives  a  little  squeeze  to  his  hand.] 

MAJOR 

[He  fetches  and  places  a  chair  for  her.]  You  bear 
witness,  Mrs.  Sharpe,  I  am  compared  to  a  headache. 

MRS.  sharpe 

[Who  has  reseated  herself;  she  laughs.]     You  are 

very  badly  treated. 

[162] 


The  Passing  of  the  Third  Floor  Back 

[The  major,  making  himself  generally  useful, 
hands  some  bread  and  butter  to  mrs.  sharpe,  the 
muffins  to  his  wife.  Later  he  joins  vivian  and  Chris- 
topher, and  laughs  and  talks  with  them,  larkcom 
has  re-entered  with  jug  of  hot  water.] 

larkcom 

[He  brings  it  over  to  mrs.  sharpe.]  Couldn't  find 
Stasia.  I  took  it  the  hot  water  was  the  essential 
thing. 

MRS.  sharpe 

Thank  you  very  much. 

[mrs.  de  hooley  has  joined  the  group  at  the  tea- 
table.] 

MRS.  TOMPKINS 

Is  that  the  sister's  frock? 


MRS.  DE  HOOLEY 

Yes.  I  thought 


MRS.  TOMPKINS 

I  want  you  to  give  me  her  address,  dear.     I'll  tell 

you  what  I've  been  thinking 

[They  sink  their  voices.] 

[163] 


The  Passing  of  the  Third  Floor  Back 

MRS.  SHARPE 

[Handing  a  cup  to  jape.]     Sorry  to  have  kept  you 
waiting. 

SAMUELS 

[He  takes  it  with  a  "  Thank  you."    He  has  been 
talking  to  larkcom.] 

[stasia  has  appeared  at  door.] 

STASIA 

May  I  speak  to  you? 

MRS.   SHARPE 

[She  hands  a  cup  of  tea  to  mrs.  tompkins,  and  then 
joins  stasia  by  the  door,  where  they  whisper.] 

WRIGHT 

I  say,  Samuels,  what's  become  of  that  silver-mine 
of  yours — in  Ireland? 

SAMUELS 

Do  you  still  want  to  be  in  it? 

WRIGHT 

Well,  is  it  any  good? 

SAMUELS 

As  a  silver-mine [snaps  his  fingers.]     As  a 

dairy-farm — might  be  a  good  sound  investment. 

[164] 


The  Passing  of  the  Third  Floor  Back 

WRIGHT 

A  dairy-farm? 

SAMUELS 

Take  a  run  over  with  me  on  Monday,  see  what  you 
think  of  it. 

WRIGHT 

Thanks,  I  will. 

SAMUELS 

With  a  good  manager — everything  up-to-date 


MRS.   SHARPE 

[Coming  down.]     If  you  please — everybody. 

[all  turn  towards  her.] 

Miss    Kite [To    stasia.]      Just    keep    a    look 

out 

[stasia  stands  with  the  open  door  in  her  hand.] 

MRS.   SHARPE 

Miss  Kite  is  on  her  way  downstairs.  [Her  air  and 
tone  of  mystery  claim  attention.]  The  question  is, 
how  are  we  going  to  receive  her  ? 

MRS.  TOMPKINS 

Why— what  ? 

[165] 


The  Passing  of  the  Third  Floor  Back 

MRS.  SHARPE 

It  will  not  be  the  Miss  Kite  we  have  hitherto 
known.  It  will  be  a  new  Miss  Kite.  According  to 
Stasia,  a  pale-faced,  middle-aged  lady  with  brown 
hair — a  little  thin  on  the  top. 

[A  movement  and  a  silence.] 

MAJOR 

[Striking  the  table  with  his  hand.}  Speaking  for 
myself,  I  shall  like  her  better. 

MRS.  TOMPKINS 

[Laughs.]    I  think  we  all  shall. 

MRS.  SHARPE 

She'll  be  terribly  nervous,  poor  lady !  We  must 
make  it  as  easy  as  we  can  for  her. 

MRS.  TOMPKINS 

Well,  I  shall  congratulate  her  on  her  good  sense. 

MRS.  DE  HOOLEY 

I  think,  with  perfect  truth,  we  shall  be  able  to  tell 
her  it  is  an  improvement. 

LARKCOM 

Take  my  advice,  you'll  say  nothing. 

MRS.  TOMPKINS 

But  surely  she'll  expect  us 

[166] 


The  Passing  of  the  Third  Floor  Back 

MRS.   SHARPE 

Do  you  know,  I'm  inclined  to  agree  with  Harry. 
I  know  I  should  myself.  I  should  rather  nobody  took 
any  notice. 

CHRISTOPHER 

I  think  that's  right. 

MRS.  TOMPKINS 

Well,  if  you  all  think  so. 

SAMUELS 

That's  the  right  idea.  She's  a  sensible  woman. 
She'll  understand. 

STASIA 

I  think  I  heard  her  door. 

MRS.   SHARPE 

Go  out  through  the  dining-room. 
[stasia  goes  out  through  the  folding  doors. ] 
Then  that's  settled.     [She  slips  back  to  her  place.] 

MAJOR 

That's  right. 

SAMUELS 

[Turning  to  wright.]  She'll  be  more  grateful  to 
us  for  silence  than  for  anything  we  could  say. 

[i67] 


The  Passing  of  the  Third  Floor  Back 

WRIGHT 

We  can  just  be  nice  and  pleasant  to  her.  Let  her 
feel  that 

[There  enters  miss  kite,  a  quietly  dressed,  middle- 
aged,  pale-faced  lady,  but  good-looking.  Her  thin 
brown  hair  tinged  with  grey  is  parted  in  the  middle 
and  neatly  arranged  each  side  of  her  face.  mrs. 
sharpe  is  busy  with  the  tea.  mrs.  tompkins  and 
mrs.  de  hooley  are  talking  dress,  wright  and 
samuels  are  discussing  the  farm,  larkcom,  by  desk, 
is  talking  to  vivian.  The  major  and  Christopher 
have  hastily  plunged  into  Art.] 

MAJOR 

[Whose  voice  is  always  easily  heard  above  that  of 

the  others.]     What  I  say  about  Velasquez  is  this 

[He  stops  as  miss  kite  enters.] 

MRS.   SHARPE 

[Rising,  she  goes  to  miss  kite.  Kisses  her.]  So 
glad  you  have  come,  dear. 

MRS.  DE  HOOLEY 

[She  is  standing  close  by.]  We  should  have  missed 
you  so  much. 

[168] 


The  Passing  of  the  Third  Floor  Back 

MRS.  TOMPKINS 

[From  her  chair. ,]  We  always  look  to  you  for  our 
conversation. 

MISS  KITE 

[The  poor  lady  is  in  an  agony  of  nervousness.  Her 
voice  is  uncertain.  ]  Thank  you.  I'm  afraid  my  con- 
versation this  afternoon [She  is  on  the  point 

of  breaking  down.] 

MAJOR 

[Placing  a  chair  for  her.]    Won't  you  be  seated? 

MISS   KITE 

[It  is  in  a  central  position.  She  hesitates,  looking 
about  her,  frightened.]    Thank  you.    I 

LARKCOM 

[He  notices  her  desire  to  keep  her  face  turned 
away  as  much  as  possible  from  every  one.  With 
rapid  explanatory  pantomime  to  the  major — who 
grasping  the  idea,  smiles  and  nods — he  places  instead 
one  of  the  easy-chairs  in  front  of  the  fire,  where  she 
can  sit  apart.]  Wouldn't  you  rather  be  nearer  the 
fire? 

MISS   KITE 

[She  gives  him  a  quick,  grateful  glance.]     Thank 

[169] 


The  Passing  of  the  Third  Floor  Back 

you.  I  don't,  know  whether  it  is  my  fancy,  but  it 
does  seem  to  me  to  be  a  bit  chilly  this  afternoon. 
[She  sits.] 

WRIGHT 

[He  brings  over  and  places  a  footstool]  We  good 
people  have  got  to  take  care  of  ourselves. 

[miss  kite  turns  to  him  with  a  smile.] 

CHRISTOPHER 

[He  has  brought  over  tea  on  a  tray  with  the  et 
ceteras.]     Cream  or  milk? 

MISS  KITE 

It's  so  kind  of  you.  [Helping  herself  with  trem- 
bling hand,  she  spills  the  milk.]  I'm  so  sorry.  I  seem 
so  clumsy. 

CHRISTOPHER 

[He  wipes  her  dress  with  his  handkerchief.]  I 
don't  think  it  will  mark.    Luckily  it  was  only  the  milk. 

SAMUELS 

[He  brings  her  a  plate  of  small  cakes.]  Take  my 
advice,  try  one  of  these.     [He  returns  to  his  talk  with 

WRIGHT.] 

[stasia    has    entered   with  fresh   muffins,     vivian 

[I/O] 


The  Passing  of  the  Third  Floor  Back 

brings  one  over  to  miss  kite.     She  places  it  on  the 
right  arm  of  the  chair,  and  stooping  whispers:] 

VIVIAN 

You  are  looking  so  nice. 

MISS  KITE 

[She  looks  up  at  the  girl  She  cannot  speak.  She 
draws  her  nearer  and  kisses  her.] 

[vivian  returns  the  kiss,  then  slips  away.] 

MISS  KITE 

You  are  all  of  you  so  kind,  I [The  tears 

begin  to  come.    She  takes  out  her  handkerchief.] 

[They  have  appeared  to  notice  nothing.  A  sympa- 
thetic smile  has  now  and  then,  perhaps,  passed — a 
whisper  of  instruction  or  advice.  The  idea  has  been 
to  put  her  at  her  ease,  as  far  as  the  difficulty  will  per- 
mit. They  talk  as  before  among  themselves,  laugh- 
ing, moving  here  and  there.  Christopher  has  joined 
vivian  again,  samuels  and  wright  are  talking. 
The  major  has  joined  them.  mrs.  sharpe  is  in  her 
place  at  tea-table,  mrs.  de  hooley,  mrs.  tompkins, 
and  larkcom  form  a  group  near  her.  stasia  is  on 
her  way  out.]     .     .     . 

[171] 


The  Passing  of  the  Third  Floor  Back 

SAMUELS 

[Raising  his  hand.  ]    Listen ! 

[From  the  foggy  street,  faint  at  first,  growing 
fuller,  rises  the  voice  of  a  singer.  The  words  are  in 
strange  tongue,  but  the  sweet  voice  fills  the  little 
room  with  its  music,  stasia  pauses,  miss  kite  dries 
her  eyes.     The  listening  faces  lighten.] 

MRS.   SHARPE 

[After  a  silence,  to  Christopher.]  Open  the  win- 
dow. [To  the  women]  Do  you  mind?  Do  you  mind, 
Miss  Kite? 

[They  answer  "No,"  "I  should  like  it,"  "Please, 
do."  Christopher  goes  to  the  lower  window,  opens 
it.     The  sound  of  the  voice  comes  clearer.] 

MRS.  SHARPE 

Who  is  it? 

CHRISTOPHER 

[At  the  zvindow.]    There  is  no  one. 

MRS.  SHARPE 

No  one? 

CHRISTOPHER 

I  can  see  no  one. 

[172] 


The  Passing  of  the  Third  Floor  Back 

MAJOR 

Must  be  in  some  other  street. 

[The  song  'dies  away.  Christopher  closes  the 
window.  ] 

MRS.  SHARPE 

It  sounded  to  me  like  a  child's  voice. 

CHRISTOPHER 

I  thought  it  a  woman's. 

VIVIAN 

Hark !    I  hear  it  again. 

MRS.   SHARPE 

It  is  further  off. 

SAMUELS 

Some  beggar,  I  suppose.    Poor  fellow ! 

[They  listen.  They  have  turned  towards  the  win- 
dow.] 

[The  door  opens,  the  stranger  stands  there  as 
in  the  Prologue,  with  hat  and  staff  in  hand.] 

[None  at  first  see  him,  except  stasia.  He  makes 
a  sign  to  her;  she  remains  silent.  The  voice  dies 
away.     He  puts  aside  his  hat  and  staff.] 

[i73] 


The  Passing  of  the  Third  Floor  Back 

MRS.   SHARPE 

[She  turns  and  sees  him.]     Ah!     [She  goes  to  him, 
smiling.]     You  come  at  the  end  of  the  feast. 

THE  STRANGER 

[Smiling.]     It  is  when  friends  feel  kindest  towards 
one  another. 


MRS.   SHARPE 

[She  laughs.]     I  was  beginning  to  be  afraid 
[She  pauses.] 


THE  STRANGER 

Afraid? 

[The  others  return  to  their  talk,     miss  kite  alone 
remains  seated.] 

MRS.  SHARPE 

I  never  feel  quite  sure  how  long [Laughs.] 

You  know  you  told  me,  when  you  came,  you  were 
but  a  Wanderer. 

THE  STRANGER 

[Smiling.]     But  then  I  was  a  Stranger — and  now 
a  Friend. 

MRS.   SHARPE 

Yes.    But  we  lose  our  friends. 

[i74] 


The  Passing  of  the  Third  Floor  Back 

THE  STRANGER 

Ah  no.  They  are  with  us  always.  [She  looks  at 
him.  ] 

SAMUELS 

[He  comes  to  them — holds  out  his  hand  to  mrs. 
sharpe.]  I  have  some  letters  to  write  before  the 
country  post  goes  out.  [He  shakes  hands  with  her, 
then  turns  to  the  stranger.]  You  do  not  happen  to 
be  looking  for  a  sound  investment?  [Laughs.]  If 
so — I'm  turning  my  silver-mine  into  a  dairy-farm. 

THE  STRANGER 

You  think  that  the  more  profitable? 

SAMUELS 

The  more  profitable.  Though  maybe  [with  a  smile] 
I'd  have  made  more  pounds,  shillings,  and  pence  out 
of  it,  but  for  you,  sir.  This  fellow,  Mrs.  Sharpe, 
[They  are  near  the  table,  mrs.  sharpe  has  returned 
to  her  duties]  has  a  trick  of  leading  a  poor  devil  into 
extravagant  tastes — love  of  one's  good  name,  desire 
for  the  honour  of  one's  people.  Such  things  cost 
dear,  in  the  City. 

the  stranger 

It  is  the  mission  of  the  Jew — to  teach  the  Law. 

[175] 


The  Passing  of  the  Third  Floor  Back 

You  remember  the  words :  "  Ye  shall  be  unto  Me  a 
kingdom  of  priests,  an  holy  nation."  A  great  inherit- 
ance, though,  as  you  say,  sir,  may  be  somewhat  costly 
to  maintain. 

[mrs.  sharpe  has  poured  out  a  cup.  stasia  brings 
it  to  the  stranger  together  with  a  plate  of  cakes  or 
small  biscuits.  He  takes  it  with  a  smile  of  thanks — 
eats  and  drinks,     stasia  waits,  watching.] 

SAMUELS 

[After  a  moment.]  You  have  always  taken  it  for 
granted,  sir,  in  all  our  conversations  that  I  was  a  fine 
fellow,  in  sympathy  with  fine  ideals.  But  that  is  not 
what  surprises  me:  it  is  to  find — that  you  are  right. 
[Smiling.] 

THE  STRANGER 

[He  has  taken  but  a  bite  and  sip — has  handed  the 
cup  back  to  stasia.]  Yes.  And  this  is  what  we  will 
tell  to  the  young  men — that  the  fear  that  keeps  men 
little  is  the  fear  of  being  great. 

SAMUELS 

[He  looks  at  him.]  Yes.  We  will  tell  it  to  the 
young  men.     Good-bye. 

[176] 


The  Passing  of  the  Third  Floor  Back 

THE  STRANGER 

[Taking  his  outstretched  hand.]     Good-bye. 
[samuels  goes  out.] 

[MRS.    DE    HOOLEY    IS    talking    tO    LARKCOM.       WRIGHT 

is  with  vivian  and  Christopher  by  piano,  miss  kite 
in  her  chair  by  the  fire,  mrs.  sharpe  at  head  of  table. 
She  is  piling  up  the  tea-things  on  tray.] 

MAJOR 

We  also,  Mrs.  Sharpe,  must  be  going.  [Checking 
her  reply.]  Mrs.  Tompkins  is  of  opinion  that  a  little 
dinner — [He  turns  to  his  wife;  they  smile  at  one 
another] — at  the  restaurant,  followed  by  the  theatre 
would  be  a  fitting  complement  to  a  delightful  after- 
noon. 

[Leaving  his  wife   to   say  a  few  words   to   mrs. 
sharpe,  he  comes  to  the  stranger.] 
I  have  Mrs.  Tompkins'  commands,  sir,  to  ask  you  to 
join  us. 

the  stranger 

[He  negatives  the  suggestion.]     You  know  the  old 
proverb. 

MAJOR 

"  Two  are  company,   three  are  none."     Ah,  yes. 

[i77l 


The  Passing  of  the  Third  Floor  Back 

But  with  you,  sir,  somehow,  it  seems  different.  We 
cannot  help  feeling  that  it  was  you,  sir,  who — without 
knowing  it — brought  us  together  again.  [the 
stranger  listens.  The  major  glances  round,  sinks 
his  voice.]  Mrs.  Tompkins  and  myself,  before  you 
came,  had  not — had  not  been  getting  on  as  well  to- 
gether as — as  perhaps  we  led  you  to  believe.  [He 
glances  at  the  stranger,  but  the  grave,  quiet  face  is 
unreadable.]     My  fault,  sir — my  fault. 

THE  STRANGER 

[Smiling.]    It  is  always  "our"  fault. 

MAJOR 

[He  laughs.  With  a  glance  again  towards  his 
wife.]  Children,  sir — that's  all  they  are,  just  children. 
[Confidentially.]  Maybe  sometimes  a  little  trying.  A 
gentleman  should  always  remember  to  be  gentle  with 
them. 

THE  STRANGER 

[He  lays  his  hand  upon  the  major's  arm.]  Re- 
membering all  our  promises  to  them,  even  to  the 
foolish  ones,  for  our  own  Honour's  sake. 

[The  major  looks  at  him;  he  is  smiling.  There  is 
a  moment's  pause.     MRS.  tompkins  joins  them.] 

[178] 


The  Passing  of  the  Third  Floor  Back 

MRS.  TOMPKINS 

It  has  just  occurred  to  me,  John.  [She  gives  his 
neck-tie  a  little  twist  of  rearrangement.]  May  not 
Vivian  think  it  unkind,  our  going  out  and  leaving 
her? 

major 

[He  glances  across  at  the  group  at  the  piano.]  Do 
you  know,  I  really  don't  think 

MRS.  TOMPKINS 

[Smiles.]  Perhaps  not  But  she  may  be  hurt  at 
our  not  asking  her. 

MAJOR 

We  will  find  out  how  the  land  lies.  [He  joins  the 
group  at  the  piano.] 

MRS.  TOMPKINS 

You  are  coming  with  us? 

THE  STRANGER 

[Again  he  puts  aside  the  invitation.  Smiling.] 
You  shall  be  content  with  one  admirer. 

MRS.  TOMPKINS 

You  confess  yourself  that?  [Then  more  seriously.] 
Thank  you.    It  is  of  so  much  help  to  a  woman  to  have 

[  i79] 


The  Passing  of  the  Third  Floor  Back 

an  admirer — [she  looks  up  at  him  with  a  smile] — one 
who  thinks  well  of  her,  who  expects  from  her — her 
best. 

THE  STRANGER 

You  see,  I  have  known  you — so  long. 

MRS.  TOMPKINS 

Not  all  the  time,  I'm  glad  to  think.  We  women  for- 
get it  is  our  privilege  to  be  the  "  Better  Half  " — the 
more  forbearing.  You  men  are  such  good  creatures 
— [laughs] — if  only  we  remember  you  are  nothing 
more  than  just  big  boys. 

THE  STRANGER 

Ah,  yes.  The  whole  round  world — what  is  it  ?  But 
Woman's  child,  claiming  from  her  tenderness. 

MAJOR 

[Returning.]  It  is  all  right.  Quite  a  coincidence. 
Young  Christopher  was  only  waiting  to  ask  our 
consent  to  his  taking  Vivian  out  to  dinner  this  evening. 

MRS.  TOMPKINS 

And  you  gave  it? 

MAJOR 

It  seemed  to  just  fit  in. 

[i8o] 


The  Passing  of  the  Third  Floor  Back 

MRS.  TOMPKINS 

[Half  acquiescing,  half  despairing.]  I  suppose  you 
know  he  hasn't  a  penny. 

MAJOR 

My  dear !  He  has  a  cheque  for  fifteen  pounds.  He 
showed  it  me.    Has  sold  two  pictures  in  one  month ! 

MRS.  TOMPKINS 

[She  laughs  and  shrugs  her  shoulders.]  Well! 
[Turning  to  the  stranger]  So  you  will  not  come? 

THE  STRANGER 

You  shall  place  an  empty  chair  for  me — between 
you. 

MAJOR 

My  dear,  we  will.  He  shall  be  our  guest,  if  not  in 
body,  then  in  spirit.    Good-bye,  sir. 

THE  STRANGER 

Good-bye.    A  pleasant  evening. 

[The  major  goes  a  little  way  towards  the  door. 
mrs.  tompkins  does  not  immediately  follow.  He 
stands  waiting.] 

MRS.    TOMPKINS 

[Her  eyes  on  the  stranger.]      It  is  odd.     I  re- 

[181] 


The  Passing  of  the  Third  Floor  Back 

member  you  so  well But  never  the  time — the 

place.    It  is  as  if  we  had  met — in  dreams. 

THE  STRANGER 

And  so  much  of  life  is  dream.  It  is  a  good  meet- 
ing-place. 

[She  joins  the  major.  He  opens  the  door  for  her. 
She  turns  with  one  last  look  to  the  stranger,  then 
passes  out.     The  major  follows  her,  closes  the  door.] 

[larkcom,    leaving    mrs.    de    hooley    with    Mrs. 

SHARPE,  COnies  tO  THE  STRANGER.] 
LARKCOM 

[Smiling.]  Got  a  bone  to  pick  with  you,  sir.  You 
have  never  been  to  see  my  show. 

THE  STRANGER 

You  are  sure? 

LARKCOM 

You — you  mean  you  have  paid? 

THE  STRANGER 

You  think  it  was  not  worth  it?     [Smiling.] 

LARKCOM 

[Shakes  his  head.]  I  didn't  want  you  to  do  that, 
sir.  The  whole  thing  was  your  idea.  I  have  always 
looked  upon  you,  sir,  as  my  partner. 

[182] 


The  Passing  of  the  Third  Floor  Baek 

THE  STRANGER 

I  shall  always  regard  it  as  a  title  of  honour. 
[His  hand  is  on  the  boy's  shoulder.     He  looks  at 
him.] 

LARKCOM 

[Taking  out  his  book  and  pen,  and  writing.]  Any 
time,  sir,  any  place — you  just  come  in — take  your 
seat.  [He  gives  the  stranger  his  card,  repockets  his 
book  and  pen.]  I  don't  think,  sir,  you  will  find  any- 
thing in  it  to  make  you  ashamed  of  the  connection. 
"  Fun  without  Vulgarity  " :  that's  my  motto. 

THE  STRANGER 

It  could  not  be  better. 

LARKCOM 

[Holding  out  his  hand.]  And  thank  you  again  for 
having  revealed  to  me  that  I  was  an  artist ! 

THE  STRANGER 

[Taking  his  hand,  smiling.]     And  Philanthropist? 

LARKCOM 

Well,  if  taking  pleasure  in  giving  pleasure,  irrespec- 
tive of  how  much  is  in  the  house,  is  philanthropy — 
[smiling] — yes,  sir. 

[183] 


The  Passing  of  the  Third  Floor  Back 


THE  STRANGER 
Ah! 


[mrs.   sharpe  is  about  to  carry  out  the  piled-up 
tray.  ] 


LARKCOM 

Shall  I  take  it  down  ? 

MRS.   SHARPE 

Well,  it  is 


LARKCOM 

[He  takes  it  and,  crossing  with  it,  pushes  open  with 
his  foot  one  of  the  folding  doors.  Then  turns.] 
Don't  forget — at  any  time — in  any  place. 

THE  STRANGER 

[Smiling.]     Thank  you — Partner. 

[ larkcom  goes  out] 

[mrs.  sharpe  is  busying  herself  putting  all  things  in 
order.] 

[the  stranger  has  remained  standing  near  the  fire. 
mrs.  de  hooley  comes  to  him.] 

MRS.  DE  HOOLEY 

I  wonder,  do  you  take  any  interest  in  women's 
frocks  ? 

[184] 


The  Passing  of  the  Third  Floor  Baek 

THE  STRANGER 

[Smiling.]  Why  not?  Women  are  of  so  much 
importance,  and  a  woman's  frock  of  so  much  impor- 
tance— to  a  woman. 

MRS.  DE  HOOLEY 

[Laughs.]  Tell  me,  what  do  you  think  of  it?  My 
sister — she  thought  she  would  like  to  be  a  dressmaker. 

[mrs.  sharpe,  busy  with  her  affairs,  goes  out,  leav- 
ing the  door  partly  open.] 
This  is  her  first  production. 

THE  STRANGER 

I  think  it  a  beautiful  frock. 

MRS.  DE  HOOLEY 

You  like  it  ? 

THE  STRANGER 

It  becomes  you. 

MRS.  DE  HOOLEY 

I  shall  be  so  glad  if  she  succeeds — for  the  children's 
sake.  I  quite  look  upon  them  as  my  own.  [Then  in 
another  voice]  We  women  are  poor  things  without 
children. 

THE  STRANGER 

And  there  are  always  children. 

[185] 


The  Passing  of  the  Third  Floor  Back 

MRS.  DE  HOOLEY 

[She  nods.]  Rather  fortunate,  is  it  not? — for 
lonely  old  women.  [She  goes  on  quickly]  To  tell 
the  truth,  I  was  getting  a  bit  tired  of  being  the  poor 
relation.  It  is  pleasant  finding  oneself  for  a  change — 
[she  looks  up  at  him,  smiling] — the  rich  aunt. 

THE  STRANGER 

Ah !  you  have  learnt  it:  that  all  the  best  fun  in  life 
is — Giving. 

[Laughter  comes  to  them  from  the  group  by  the 
piano.  ] 

MRS.  DE  HOOLEY 

Yes.  It  is  good  fun.  You  will  come  and  see  them 
one  day — will  you  not? — my  children. 

THE  STRANGER 

One  day.     I  promise. 

MRS.  DE  HOOLEY 

[Pausing  on  her  way;  she  turns  again.]  Remem- 
ber. 

THE  STRANGER 

One  day,  I  promise. 

[She  goes  out.] 

[186] 


The  Passing  of  the  Third  Floor  Back 

[the  stranger  turns,     miss  kite  has  risen.] 

MISS  KITE 

You  see,  I  have  grown  vain. 

THE  STRANGER 

You  have  excuse. 

MISS  KITE 

You  still  think  me  beautiful? 

THE  STRANGER 

I  think  you  beautiful. 

MISS  KITE 

[She  comes  to  him.]  I  understand.  All  men  and 
women  are  fair.  Only  so  many  of  us  disguise  our- 
selves in  all  manner  of  ugly  colours. 

THE  STRANGER 

All  men  and  women  are  fair.  And  some  are  fairer 
than  others.  And  they  shall  be  the  kinder,  having 
the  more  to  make  them  kind. 

MISS  KITE 

[Smiling.]     To  which  do  I  belong? 

THE  STRANGER 

[He  also  is  smiling.]     Your  glass  shall  tell  you. 

[187] 


The  Passing  of  the  Third  Floor  Back 

MISS  KITE 

[Laughs.]     You  are  determined  I  shall  be  vain. 

THE  STRANGER 

Of  your  rightful  place  among  fair  women. 

MISS  KITE 

[She  looks  at  him.]  It  is  curious.  Your  voice 
conjures  up  to  me  always  the  same  picture :  of  an 
elfish  child,  with  her  chin  upon  her  knees,  asking  ques- 
tions of  the  fire.  [Thinking,  she  shakes  her  head.] 
I  see  only  the  little  rounded  back,  like  a  note  of  inter- 
rogation. 

THE  STRANGER 

The  little  wistful  face  was  very  fair. 

[She  gives  him  her  hand.  Then,  in  silence,  she 
goes  towards  the  door;  turns,  smiling,  then  goes  out.] 

[wright  and  the  lovers,  talking,  have  drawn 
nearer,    wright  comes  forward.] 

WRIGHT 

You  have  not  been  up  to  see  my  portrait. 

THE  STRANGER 

[Turns.]     It  is  finished? 

[188J 


The  Passing  of  the  Third  Floor  Back 

WRIGHT 

All  but  the  drapery.  Should  rather  like  you  to  see 
it. 

CHRISTOPHER 

[Laughs.]  The  fact  is,  sir,  we  are  quarrelling 
about  the  price.  We  thought  that,  perhaps,  you  might 
be  able  to  decide  between  us. 

WRIGHT 

I  want  to  pay  him  what  it's  worth  to  me.  That's 
business. 

CHRISTOPHER 

He  wants  to  pay  me — well,  [laughs]  I  won't  say 
more  than  it's  worth — but  more  than  I  would  get  from 
any  one  else.    I  can't  accept,  can  I  ?    It  would  be 

THE  STRANGER 

A  gift.  And  no  man  may  accept  a  gift  with  honour 
— save  from  a  friend. 

[A  silence.] 

CHRISTOPHER 

It  isn't  that,  sir.  He  is  a  friend — [he  puts  his  arm 
shyly  round  the  old  man's  shoulders] — a  dear  friend. 
That's  why  I  can't  bear  the  thought  of  imposing  upon 
him. 

[189J 


The  Passing  of  the  Third  Floor  Back 

WRIGHT 

Who's  imposing?  I  know  what  I'm  about.  I'm 
not  a  picture-dealer.  I'm  an  Art  Patron  [zvith  his 
trick  of  pointing  to  himself].  Always  thought  I'd  like 
to  be  an  Art  Patron.  I'm  going  to  brag  about  it,  later 
on,  that  it  was  I  who  discovered  you. 

CHRISTOPHER 

[Laughs.]     I  seem  to  be  in  an  awkward  position. 

THE  STRANGER 

You  have  a  partner.  And  in  business,  when  one  is 
in  an  awkward  position — [smiling]  you  see,  I  know 
all  about  it — one  leaves  it  to  the  partner.  She  shall 
decide.  [He  turns  to  her.]  Whether  it  shall  be  price, 
such  as  stranger  pays  to  stranger — or  gift,  that  we 
may  take  with  honour  only  from  the  hands  of  those 
we  love. 

VIVIAN 

[She  comes  forward,  gives  to  the  old  fellow  both 
her  hands.]  Yes.  Let  it  be  gift.  [She  draws  nearer 
to  him,  smiling  into  his  eyes,  kisses  him.] 

WRIGHT 

[The  old  fellow  is  taken  aback.  The  tears  come 
into   his   eyes.     He    turns  away.    After  a   moment, 

[190] 


The  Passing  of  the  Third  Floor  Back 

from  over  his  shoulder,  he  speaks  to  the  stranger.] 
Should  you  like  to  see  it — one  day — when  you've  got 
the  time.  Clever  bit  of  work.  [He  sinks  his  voice — 
jerks  his  thumb  in  the  direction  of  Christopher.] 
Wonderful  sense  of  colour — quite  wonderful.  [He 
passes  out.] 

[A  silence.] 

CHRISTOPHER 

[He  looks  toward  the  open  door  through  which  old 
wright  has  passed.]  How  is  one  to # know  people? 
I  used  to  think  him  such  a  bad  man.     [Laughs.] 

THE  STRANGER 

[Smiling.  ]  "  The  business  of  Art  is  to  reveal  the 
beauty  underlying  all  things." 

CHRISTOPHER 

[To  vivian.]  They  were  his  words — my  Master, 
who  first  taught  me.  [He  turns  to  the  stranger] 
How  I  wish  he  were  still  here  among  us!  How  you 
would  have  liked  one  another ! 

THE  STRANGER 

You  have  given  up — "trying  to  forget  him"? 

CHRISTOPHER 

I  am  trying  to  remember  him,  sir,  how  much  he 

[191] 


The  Passing  of  the  Third  Floor  Back 

expected  of  me.  [He  puts  his  arm  round  vivian, 
draws  her  towards  him.]  We  are  going  to  do  good 
work — whether  it  pays,  or  whether  it  doesn't.  We 
have  discussed  it  all  thoroughly,  so  that  we  shall  not 
be  taken  by  surprise  like — like  other  people  are.  We 
are  going  to  be  prepared  for  everything — even  for 
poverty. 

THE  STRANGER 

Ah !  that  is  the  secret.  Love !  she  is  a  woman. 
And  all  men  can  she  love — save  one;  with  all  men 
may  she  dwell — save  one :  with  all  men  save  the  coward. 
It  is  not  poverty;  it  is  the  fear  of  poverty  that  drives 
out  Love. 

[A  moment.] 

CHRISTOPHER 

[He  holds  out  his  hand.]  Good-bye,  sir.  I  am  glad 
you  came  into  this  house.  I  cannot  tell  you  all  you 
have  done  for  me.  It  would  not  sound  much — in 
words.  I  wish  there  was  something  we  could  do  for 
you,  in  return. 

THE  STRANGER 

You  would?  [He  is  between  them.  He  lays  a 
hand  on  each.]     It  will  seem  so  easy.    But  there  will 

[192] 


The  Passing  of  the  Third  Floor  Back 

come  days  when  the  memory  of  a  promise  made  to 
a  friend  may  help.  You  shall  give  me,  as  a  gift,  this 
promise:  that  through  all  things  to  the  end  you  love 
one  another. 

[The  fog  is  thickening.  The  light  struggling 
through  the  twin  windows  is  faint  and  yellow.  They 
move  towards  the  doors.  A  white  hyacinth,  fallen 
from  the  bowl  upon  the  table,  lies  upon  the  floor. 
vivian,  stooping,  picks  it  up,  holds  it  pressed  between 
her  folded  hands.  One  feels  that  often  in  the  years 
to  come  she  will  take  it  from  its  secret  place;  that, 
gazing  at  it,  she  will  see  again  the  fading  room,  the 
stranger  standing  with  bent  shoulders.] 

[They  turn  their  eyes  again  to  the  stranger,  his 
face  is  towards  them.  They  pass  out,  smiling, 
through  the  open  door.  mrs.  sharpe  has  entered 
through  the  folding  doors.  She  stands  watching. 
They  pass  out  without  seeing  her.  the  stranger 
turns.     She  comes  towards  him.] 

MRS.  SHARPE 

You  are  going  away  from  us:  something  tells  me. 
Ah,  no!  do  not  answer  me:  do  not  let  me  know.  It 
is  only  for  a  little  while.     You  will  be  returning — 

[193] 


The  Passing  of  the  Third  Floor  Back 

very  soon.     Your  room  will  be  ready  for  you — al- 
ways. 

THE  STRANGER 

[He,  smiling,  holds  out  his  hand.]  As  friends,  at 
eventide,  we  will  merely  say  Good-night. 

MRS.  SHARPE 

[Smiling,  she  takes  his  hand.]  Good-night.  [She 
turns.  Upon  the  shining  mahogany  table  stands  only 
the  bowl  of  hyacinths.  A  few  drops  of  water  are 
spilled.  With  her  handkerchief  she  wipes  them  away. 
At  the  folding  doors  she  turns  again,  smiling.]  Good- 
night.    [She  passes  out,  closing  the  doors.] 

[the  stranger  stands  silent.  After  a  while  the 
door  opens  again,     stasia  enters.] 

STASIA 

[She  goes  to  the  sideboard,  opens  it,  takes  out  the 
tablecloth.]     Still  keeps  foggy,  don't  it? 

THE  STRANGER 

[Her  eyes  are  bent  upon  her  work.  He  stands  be- 
fore her.]     I  see  blue  skies  and  sunshine. 

STASIA 

[She  looks  up.    He  is  looking  into  her  eyes,  smil- 


The  Passing  of  the  Third  Floor  Back 

ing.]  You  mean  me?  [She  laughs.]  Yes,  it  doesn't 
matter,  does  it?  [She  lets  fall  her  work,  flings  her 
arms  about  him.]  Oh,  it  was  such  a  muddle  before 
you  came — life!  everything!  I  couldn't  make  head  or 
tail  of  it. 

THE  STRANGER 

There  are  so  many  cannot  make  head  or  tail  of  it. 

STASIA 

[Still  with  her  arms  about  him.]  And  all  the  while 
it  is  beautiful.  [The  clock  on  the  unseen  mantel- 
piece strikes  the  half-hour — two  strokes.  She  un- 
clasps her  arms.]  Time  does  fly,  doesn't  it?  [She 
goes  to  take  up  the  cloth  again.] 

THE  STRANGER 

[He  stays  her.]  There  is  something  I  want  you  to 
do  for  me.  Come  to  the  door  with  me.  Leave-tak- 
ings are  but  wasted  sadness.  Let  me  pass  out  quietly. 
Gose  it  softly  behind  me. 

STASIA 

[A  dumb  pain  is  taking  hold  of  her.]  You  must 
go? 

THE  STRANGER 

I  also  am  a  servant.    I  have  my  work. 

[1951 


The  Passing  of  the  Third  Floor  Back 

STASIA 

[She  conquers  herself — drives  back  her  tears  be- 
hind smiles.  She  puts  out  her  hands  to  him.  ]  It  was 
so  kind  of  you — to  come. 

THE  STRANGER 

[He  takes  her  in  his  arms.]  I  came  because  you 
wanted  me. 

[She  goes  to  the  door  with  him,  opens  it.  He  does 
not  turn  his  face  again.  She  stands  with  the  door 
in  her  hand  till  beyond  the  misty  square  he  passes 
from  her  sight.  Then  very  softly  she  closes  the 
door.] 

[She  comes  back  slowly  into  the  quiet  room,  goes 
to  the  table,  smooths  out  the  folded  cloth,  takes  it  up 
in  her  hands.  She  has  left  the  room  door  open. 
Through  the  fanlight  steals  the  sunshine.  It  lies,  a 
beam  of  light,  across  the  room.  Turning,  she  sees  it. 
She  goes  to  it.  Her  arms  stretched  out  each  side  of 
her,  she  raises  her  face  so  that  the  sunlight,  bathing 
her  face,  kisses  her  parted  lips.  So  she  stands  a 
while,  her  face  framed  in  the  light.  Then  she  takes 
up  again  the  folded  cloth,  goes  with  it  through  the 
folding  doors.  And  the  face  that  passes  out  is  the 
face  of  one  to  whom  Love  itself  has  spoken.] 

[196] 


The  Passing  of  the  Third  Floor  Back 

[The  stage  remains  empty.  The  bowl  of  hyacinths 
upon  the  shining  mahogany  table.  The  shaft  of  sun* 
light  falling  on  the  worn  carpet.] 


THE   CURTAIN    FALLS 


[197] 


UVy  ouu  i  ncnix  ntuiunrvL 


Date  Due  AA    000  598  837    3 


ifl    ■ — * 


<*• 


